Patience: good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence.

I don’t have much of it. I never have. Like any kid, when I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to grow up and be an adult. When the last month of my senior year rolled around – I needed time to stop – it was moving way too fast! In college – I couldn’t wait to meet my husband. After Jared proposed to me – I realized that time was moving too fast – again!

When the time came around that people started asking me more and more to take pictures for them – I couldn’t wait to start my business. To quit my “real” job and be a “real” photographer. I never thought the time would come for me to be able to quit my job and photograph beautiful people all day!

That was almost 7 years ago. In March it will be 2 years that barden photography has been my job!

It took tons of patience – and still does! I am not nearly where I want to be with my photography – I compare myself to other photographers ALL THE TIME. I am constantly pushing myself to be better and learn new things. There are a lot of new photographers popping up or moving into the area and it’s important to find your niche and stand out.

Getting pregnant started out with no waiting at all – we got pregnant within the first month of trying! Waiting for that first appointment and then waiting to see our baby on the screen. Waiting for a miscarriage or to go in and have a procedure and then waiting to start trying again. And then waiting and waiting and waiting for it to happen. Waiting for test results to come back on why we were waiting so long. Waiting for it to happen on its own or make the decision for medical intervention. Then making the decision to wait to start trying again in December – because of my barden photography baby.

Waiting for a test result that I didn’t think would be positive AT ALL! Waiting – again – to see our baby on a screen – holding our breath and praying and waiting some more. Waiting to tell people about our surprise miracle. Waiting to figure out what to do about the summer and the weddings I already had scheduled.

WAITING – God has been teaching me patience my whole life it seems.

Now we wait – again. Wait until I have a big baby belly – baby showers – our sweet baby in our arms. Wait to take pictures of the first newborn that I don’t have to give back at the end of the session! Wait to spend three months cuddled up with our miracle and soaking in every moment that life has to offer!

I made the decision to cut down on my schedule and enjoy the preciousness of life – it was hard. I have been waiting so long to get my business going and established – a loyal client base that can depend on me for their memories. Now I have it – and I have to cut back.

So God is teaching me patience and trust. Patience throughout our wait to see our miracle – trust that everything will go according to His plan. Trust that I will be a good momma and a better wife. Patience in the long nights and fussy days.

Trust in His plan for barden photography – that my clients will wait for me – because I love you all too much to lose you!

Look at the goodness of God –

2003 – 1 wedding.

2004 – 1 session.

2005 – 2 weddings. 1 session.

2006 – 6 weddings. 3 sessions.

2007 – 6 weddings. 23 sessions.

2008 – 10 weddings. 38 sessions.

2009 – 24 weddings. 142 sessions.

2010 – 30 weddings. 206 sessions.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

I trust that I will someday become the photographer I want to be – but then again – I never want to to step back and look at my work and say – that’s it – I’m done. I’m the best I can be and the best there is – I never want to stop improving and growing and learning. I trust that I will not intimidated by the other people popping up with cameras – but driven to succeed and be a better artist!