November 30, 2015
For the past 10 years I have worked as a dental assistant and for the past five I have done both dentistry and photography. I often wondered if I would ever be able to say that I am just a photographer. I think the moment I knew what my heart truly wanted was when I took a new job this year in dentistry with Dr. Susan Creech.
She inspired me because she truly woke up every single day and LOVED her job! Being a dentist brought joy to her heart and it beamed off of her everyday! You could see the joy she had for what she does. I searched in myself and wanted that joy to. I kept thinking for the past couple of years that I would eventually be happy in my career (dentistry) that I would eventually wake up everyday and be excited, but the excitement never came.
I found myself thinking about sessions and weddings and the excitement that I got from being apart of those and the joy that I feel when I’m taking pictures. I prayed for so long about the decision I would make. If it was the right one for me and my family. I kept telling myself there will always be a tooth ache but will there always be pictures to take?
I decided to put in my notice at work. My heart was broken. I never want to let anyone down and I loved Dr. Creech. She told me that life was to short not to do what you loved and that she wanted me to be happy. She told me that she woke up everyday excited about dentistry, but she honestly didn’t have to tell me because I could see it.
Everyday I am more excited about the people I’m going to meet and the stories that I will hear. I guess for once I realized that photography truly does make me happy. I think I wanted to be in denial about it really because it’s human nature to think we will fail. Could I make this work? This photography that I love. Can I really do this?
After a week or so went by I really worried about my decision. Did I make the right choice??? I prayed even more everyday that God would send me a sign that everything would be ok.
My sister visited her friend in California during this time and while she was there she went to China town. She watched them make fortune cookies and she decided we all needed some so she brought back a huge bag and divided them up between the family. Fortune cookies are funny you have no idea what their going to say and they are so random.
I ate three in a row the first one I ate said, “Follow your heart for success in the coming week”. I ate another one after that it said, ” Now is a good time to try something new”. I stopped for a minute and I smiled at Dustin. I ate one more after that and it said, “Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded”. I cried after I ate all of these in a row. This was my last week at work before I would set off for this new journey as just a photographer. I am a believer and I believe God spoke to me as silly as it may sound through fortune cookies (yes you can giggle if you want). I had been praying that week for a sign. I needed that! God gave me the peace in my heart that I had been praying about. My decision was finally clear. As crazy as it may sound. God gave me that peace through these fortunes.
So here I am with one job. I am a photographer. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know the one who holds it. I will trust in his promise that he will never leave me and I will pray for his guidance everyday. (Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This new job may only last for a season or it may last for a lifetime. I can’t deny the fact of what my heart loves. So I will love this job as long as I have it. I will be honest and loving to everyone I meet. I will show others what their love looks like. I will stay true to myself and be humbled at every opportunity.
We only get one life to live and we need to make the most of it while we are here.
LionCat Media made this video for me. I could explain to you all day why I love what I do, but I think you can see it better than reading it. This video has my heart all over it. This is me and this is what truly makes my heart happy.
With love,
Michelle
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