But I am also…

a single mom
a small business owner
my house cleaner
my tax person
my kid’s chef
a planner
a meal planner
my shopper
my bill payer
my launder
a “taxi” driver
an artist
a renter
a social media manager
an SEO expert
a web designer
an influencer-for my own business
a videographer now?
a graphic designer
a disabled person
a daughter
a granddaughter
a friend

an aspiring muscle mommy

And the list goes on.

In order to succeed in any sort of business, you need to outsource most of these tedious jobs.

In order to be human, you also need to live a decently normal life surrounded by family and friends, to fill your cup so to say.

But what if that isn’t an option? What if all of these things aren’t available due to a slow season or you have an unexpected life crisis? What if you no longer have a community to help with these things? What if something happens and your emergency funds become depleted?

Don’t forget taxes…

And what if you have the absolute audacity to have boundaries in your business? Along with a disability that prohibits the ability to live a “normal” life.

Or, what if you just simply

run out of time.

That’s unfortunately the reality for a lot of small businesses right now. There is also the expectation from most small businesses to act as a large corporation. As if this long list of life expectations must come after the service or purchase. You need this asap. You become the priority over everything that needs to be done by the business owner outside of their normal life.

Which, in a way, I agree to a certain extent.

I’ve noticed a drastic shift in how I have been treated as a small business owner and artist. I am no longer seen as human.

In my opinion and observation, it seems we are living in a society filled with an immense amount of entitlement and greed. With the expectation for everyone to provide that instant gratification.
That includes small business owners without many of the resources needed to fulfill that instantaneous demand.

And most of us are able to provide that and WANT to provide that because we are just as excited as you are to provide the service/thing we have become so passionate about. So passionate that we decided to make a career out of it.

But we are also…human.

So, I am a photographer.
But I am also a human trying to navigate this life alone and dodging as much chaos while raising two kids in the process.
The nation needs more small business owners right now, but if we continue to treat these small businesses like large corporations, we will lose them.

We don’t make a ton of money; we make enough to try and live by these capitalistic ideologies put in place while also trying to enjoy the process and continue to love what we do. Guess you could say it’s a love hate relationship.

Please remember that we are all doing our absolute best and want to give you everything we can at the highest level of service and appreciate your ability to treat us with respect and care.

While also loving our business, our art and our passion we get to share with you.

Thank you,
Ashley
Professional Overshare-r and Photographer in the greater Seattle area

You can read more about me here:

about me