Slow Down Summer
Despite the fact that school supplies have been out since July 5th, I’m a firm believer that August is the best month of the year and dare I say, summer. In fact, I purposely scheduled my sunset mini sessions towards the end of August, because there is still so much summer to be soaked up and enjoyed. It’s also the only month of the year without a holiday, which I kind of love. It’s a month where you can just come as you are, no big gatherings or major plans. It’s exactly why I chose to get married in August. I’m well aware that come August 31st, many will be ready to light those fall candles and bust out their flannels - guilty - but for now, I plan to wind down a little and settle in.
It’s not too late to sign up for my mini-sessions at Headlands on 08/25!
It’s been a busy summer at the Cirino house! We had our first garden, made lot’s of post-dinner ice cream trips to Downtown Willoughby, spent many days at the pool and parks, and spent every day chasing our very busy toddler. By 8:00pm, it lights out for me. But early to bed, means early to rise! I still love my early mornings and often find myself watering flowers, picking tomatoes, making to-do lists, and sometimes making dinner, all before 7:00am (if I’m lucky) when I hear “mommmmmyyyyy!” echoing through the house. What’s the saying… “if you want something, done, give it to someone who is busy?” I couldn’t be busier but I also couldn’t be happier than I’ve been this summer.
Photography has been sprinkled into early mornings, nights, & weekends and has made my life bigger and fuller in ways I never imagined. The rush I feel after each session reassures me that I was meant to do this. It’s a feeling I’ve prayed for a very long time. The best part of each session is getting to connect with the family. You really get to step inside their world and season of life and it’s such an honor to be there with them. If I had tried to start this business before I became a mother, I would never have been able to empathize with the Herculean effort it requires just to get your family dressed and camera ready! If you need a refresher, see below for some of my favorite behind-the-scenes! I also wouldn’t fully appreciate how priceless it is to have forever images of your children when they are little. Next to the session itself, I absolutely love the editing process. I can feel how excited my clients are going to be when they get to see certain pictures. I really enjoy diving into the images (and the alone time - let’s be honest) and often catch myself smiling at my computer as I chip away at perfecting the small details. Do something you love and you’ll never work a day, right?
Summer 2022 has been such a leap of faith. When I launched my website and instagram on Memorial Day, I couldn’t look at my phone the entire day. To my surprise, when I finally got up to the courage to take a peek, I was met with an outpouring of supportive messages from my family, friends, and co-workers. I remember saying to my husband - it’s crazy that some people might never start that business, or write that book, or live their truth, solely because they are afraid of what people might think. It’s the primary thing that was holding me back for so long. But I knew once I got past the initial fear of putting myself out there, the hard part (for me at least) would be over and I’d be free to start living a life that for so long, only existed in my head.
I’m not sure what direction I’ll be taking with future blog posts. Seems like the working mother/entreprenuer has been an emerging theme. But my hope is that if you're reading this (bless you!), you’ll be encouraged to listen to your heart, be authentically you, and start designing the life you love.
“Mommmmmmyyyy!!!” - gotta go.