Heather Engen Photography

So whatever happened to Heather Engen Photography?

I decided it wasn't the right fit for me and for where I was at that point in my life. I always struggled with how to price myself.  In some ways photography doesn't lend itself well to working part-time.  Many of the expenses are flat so whether you want to work 10 hours a week, 20 hours a week or 60 hours a week, your cost is the same.  And if you're doing family photography, the hours aren't family-friendly because the work tends to be on weekends. Plus, I've never felt comfortable with any sort of direct sales business and really my photography business felt like the same thing. I think the final straw was when I took photos for an acquaintance and they said they'd mail me a check, but they never did.  I felt awkward hounding them about it. That's when I sat down and took stock of what I was feeling about my photography business.  There were things I enjoyed - taking photos, interacting with people et cetera.  But ultimately I acknowledged that the right choice was for me to return to corporate America.  I felt like that was a better for my personality and skillset.

Having said that, Heather Engen Photography *does* live on as a hobby.  It's limping a little at the moment however. This summer I broke my favorite lens and one of my camera bodies. My waterproof camera died - taking fun photos along with it.  I don't have the same easy subjects I used to have - my kids are getting older and less cooperative. All of these things have contributed to throw me into a photography slump.  But one of these days I'll get around to fixing my 50mm lens and hopefully that will help cure the slump.

A New Chapter Begins

The milestone that I have been waiting for all these years, has come and gone.  All four children are in school full time.

I'm discovering that my seven hours sans children seem to fly by.  So far the house doesn't seem any cleaner and the dinners haven't been any more remarkable.  I have yet to bake cookies to welcome the kiddos home from school.  I've not done any scrap-booking.  My desk is still a mess, with stacks of papers and things to be done.  And the thing I was most looking forward to - being able to get into a great exercise routine - hasn't worked out that well either.  (But I don't feel that one's entirely my fault since I keep having to go back to the doctor to have him cut stuff out of my back and each time he wants me to take six weeks off of exercise. Seriously, doc?!)

I have been spending a lot of time at the school, helping out with various programs and even in the classroom.  I did manage to thoroughly organize my daughter's room...only to have her mess it right back up, within days.  I made a good start on the other daughter's room and she too messed it right back up.  In fact her room looks about ten times worse than it did before I started.  My one success has been my own neatly made bed every day.  And so far I'm still managing to pack lunches the evening before, which makes life so much better.  (I was having the kids pack their own lunches but after a few weeks of that, I decided I'd better step in and better manage the ratio of healthy to less healthy food!)

Even if the seven hours feel more like three, I am loving this bit of free time.  Dwight and I have started running together in the mornings, which is great.  We often grab lunch together, which is a real perk to having him work from home. I've also been enjoying lunches and Starbucks rendezvous with friends.  And there was even a weekend jaunt to Phoenix to visit my nephew (and his parents).

So life is good. And hopefully soon I'll get into a routine and I'm even hoping to get back to blogging.  So perhaps you might check back in a month or two, as opposed to a year or two.  :)