It's been wild-- let me explain where I am at, and how I got here.
This past year or so has been filled with huge changes, slight chaos, and a lot of thought. I graduated from college, moved to a new city, started my career, took an ambulance ride, had a couple surgeries, re-started therapy, met some really awesome people, felt lost for a while, and thought really deeply about my life along every step of the way.
The personal goals I had last March have been fully recycled into new ideas and goals that I have now-- and I'm positive they will change again some more.
When it comes to THIS (Joyful Times Photography), my goals have continued to shift and change. I mean at one point I wanted to be a professional sports photographer and now I'm almost exclusively shooting boudoir-- so thats a full 180. I've spoke before about how weddings are just not maintainable for me due to physical limitations, and for a while I really thought brand/product photography was my final goal. [Don't get me wrong, I fricken love my women owned businesses and I don't plan on leaving them behind] but i'm just not feeling fulfilled through 'conventional' sessions anymore.
The only thing that has gotten me through this crazy year of change has been boudoir.
Boudoir (or confidence sessions) have truly given me an outlet to shift others mindsets, something that not even therapists are always capable of. I have cried with women, cheered in joy, sat in utter shock, and been able to gift these women the ability to see themselves as WHOLE. It's truly like nothing else I have ever experienced in life. Boudoir makes me feel so incredibly fulfilled, I could never imagine NOT doing it. Not to mention, it has help me heal my own relationship with my body as well (woohoo!).
I created a second instagram to focus on boudoir, confidence, womanhood, etc... and it's been my baby. I've always known that I want to make an impact on women in some way & this has given me the space to do that. I plan on doing way more than just post on instagram though. A podcast, book, workshops, collaborations, women-only events-- the opportunities are endless.
So what does this mean for JTP now that Confidence With Jess exists? I'm not sure. Do I wrap them together? Ditch JTP entirely? Continue to just focus on confidence sessions and just let JTP maintain itself? Only time will tell.
But what I do know is that I want to make as big of an impact on others as I possibly can.
My goals extend far beyond photography, so I decided to write a mission statement for myself to keep my mind focused on what's important and to have a reference point for every decision that I get stuck on.
To be, and to help others to be the most empowered, confident, passionate and inspired that I (and they) can possibly be & to always be in pursuit of more, but to enjoy each moment to its fullest along the journey.
I don't have all the answers, quite honestly I don't even have some of the answers. What I do know is that I have a burning passion to do more, to help women, to be a disrupter to society, to change mindsets, to educate others, and to ignite that same passion in others.
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