What a month it has been! To be honest with you, when the news of COVID-19 hit and quarantine became the word of the day, I started to panic. It felt like the world stopped and we were forced to change the way we live our lives.

First, I focused on keeping my family safe and healthy, but then I became painfully aware of the possibility of losing my business.

Being a portrait photographer gives me the flexibility to work from home. Unfortunately, I can’t serve you if I have to stay six feet away. It was impossible to plan for a situation like this and I wondered if I could survive this uncomfortable and awkward circumstance. I kept telling myself:

“Things may be different right now, but it doesn’t mean that they’ll stay like this forever. I just have to ride out these lean times and focus on my passion for photography.”

I found that the best way to keep my mind from wandering was to create a plan and have a strategy. With the restrictions and the orders to shelter in place, it became evident that I needed a new workspace in the house. I decided to placed my laptop on a small desk next to the window in my studio so I could enjoy the view of my back yard and not feel so confined.

The next step was to keep a schedule, which was easier said than done. During the early days of the quarantine, I had a hard time finding the motivation to get out of bed. I knew things had to change, so I poured my energy into the things I COULD do, like improving myself. I finally had the time to take the online classes I had purchased months ago during a Black Friday sale. It was time to work on my craft and learn new techniques on lighting, posing, and editing.

I’m still working through my classes but I’m gaining a new set of skills and a notebook full inspiration that I can’t wait to try. Keeping a schedule started to become easier because I had something to look forward to. It gave my day a sense of normalcy and productivity and I knew deep down inside that my business was going to survive in spite of the unknowns. This is my chance to pivot, grow, and expand.

It may seem like a small thing considering we are in the middle of a pandemic, but I know doing these small things today will grow my business tomorrow.

I’ve updated my website, streamlined and built better workflows, created a makeup guide, added new content to help you have even better photos, and most importantly I’ve added a new service to my portfolio, photo restoration. I really believe that saving your family history is more important today than ever before. To learn more you can click >>HERE<<

I can’t predict the future. All I can do is have hope and faith that this too shall pass, and when it does, I’ll be here ready to provide you with the best service possible and the ultimate portrait experience.

With Love,

Mariela