She Believed She Could, So She Did...

She believed she could...so she did. That was the motto that started SO Chic Photography nearly three years ago. Before my photography obsession, I had landed my first "big" gig and was a creature of corporate PR which was fantastic at the time. I was newly married, in my mid twenties and hadn't quite conquered babies yet!  I worked with a great bunch of gals that made Tech PR fun, if you can imagine that! Fast forward and Matt and I found out we were expecting...it was amazing. The only title I ever cared about was"mommy." We decided to not find out what we were having and God only knows how hard I prayed to get her, Madison Sara. She blew me away...more than I could have ever imagined. Eleven months later, her baby sister blew me away when she decided to show up 7 weeks premature! Ta da, Mackenzie Rose was here.

Here I was, 27 years old with a newborn and an 11 month old BABY! My rockstar PR position required more strategy, more energy and more time than I was willing or physically and mentally able to give. Also being head quartered on the West Coast, I was leaving my poor husband at home ALONE with a newborn and a year old baby...I couldn't stand leaving all of them. A few weeks back from my second maternity leave, I quit.  Sayonara corporate job, corporate strategies, and corporate salary...EEK! What did I do? I didn't care. If anyone was going to be feeding my girls bottles, changing diapers, catching throw-up, snuggling or losing their mind, it was definitely going to be me...

I always wanted to be home with my girls, always, and there wasn't anything or anyone that was going to stop me, period. I knew the girls being so young and so close needed me and I needed them.  But knowing who I am, I needed a creative outlet and a way to bring in extra income for my family. I was always the family photographer at every family event or special function because I appreciated so many awe moments (and because I'm sentimental as hell). I still cannot take enough pictures!

I can't remember how I found her, but God put a photography class with the great and mighty Karla Banks in front of me that winter. I asked my parents to pay for the class as an early birthday gift (remember the losing the corporate salary part?) And they happily obliged. Karla has changed my life. And if she reads this she'll probably laugh or think I am crazy, but she did. Check her out, Banks Photography. She is AMAZING. She is wicked smart and such a wonderful teacher, mentor and friend. I've lost count of the classes I have taken from her since then (and all the practice frames I've shot), but I can't get enough! She brings such enthusiasm, love and passion to photography, while keeping it elegant and simple. Exactly what I strive to achieve, simple and chic. Let me say it again, AMAZING!

Something about Thanksgiving this year that really hit me, I have lots to be thankful for! My parents for helping fund this dream not only in classes but camera equipment, Karla Banks for her patience and awe-inspiring love and knowledge of photography, my husband for helping corral my crazy girls and use them as models, from babies to toddlers and beyond, and for going to bed without me most nights while I am up editing away, but most importantly my clients! The friends and family that have supported this dream when I came knocking and asked, "Hey,you need family pictures?" or "doesn't someone have a birthday coming up?" And the fun referrals along the way that I now call friends. You are the heart and soul of why I do what I do! You're contributing to my dream of being home with my girls and for that, I am extremely and forever grateful.

I attached a picture of the O'Malley girls because well, they are grateful too!

SO