Pati Pakulis Photography

January has been a really good month for me. I think I’ve managed to work toward that ONE focus I have for 2012 —- BALANCE

As my Pastor would say, it’s my “bullseye” for the year.

On the one end, I got LOTS of To-Do’s checked off my list:

I participated in a Crave Mentoring Session – ( she’s an AMAZING photographer that I admire)
I finished a much more polished and professional looking 2012 Pricelist for my clients
Did a Promo photo shoot with my Senior Models
Produced a Senior Promo video and contest
I ordered new Thank you notes
I cleaned out my garage – that’s always BIG
I cleaned out my kids closets with them – that’s even BIGGER
I got half of my master bathroom done – phase 1
I gave my Facebook Business page a facelift
Got halfway through taxes – prepping
Had a birthday party for 40 middle schoolers with a photobooth

With all that productivity, I did ALSO have some BALANCE in my life -
I read a good Book – “The Boy Who came back from Heaven”
I cooked quite a few good meals
I read “The Story” lots! (The Bible in the form of a Novel) I love it!
I played my guitar more often
I actually took quite a few power naps
I had my hair done
I watched season 2 of The Walking Dead
I got through half a season of Arrested Development
I took Marley on lots of walks – he’s actually loosing weight – YAY!
I started running a bit too
I shot guns for the first time ever in my life – wow – it was actually pretty awesome!
I actually enjoyed a nap in the gorgeous sunlight that pours into my bedroom every afternoon
I prayed for a close friend all month long

Best moments of January

Starting the New Year with My close Friend Jill and the kids and I spending time with the Ruckman Family in Quinter Kansas – There were many many laughs!
Eating a carne asada burrito at “Panchos” in Tucson – it’s a spiritual experience, believe me!
Going to a soccer tournament in Tucson – I got to spend some nice time my girls!
Belly laughing when Colin told me he’s going to dress up as Spongebob Squarepants on Tuesdays for Applebee’s – priceless moment
Going to watch Courageous on family night at The Springs Church
Hearing Julia that Julia made the “Advanced SILVER Team” in Desert Vista dance tryouts- whoo whoo – she’s only been dancing for a few months
Getting my camera back from Nikon… finally!
Meeting and photographing the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen – Dellilah Her owner Emily is a Sweetheart too!!

My favorite photo from January: I know I just posted this, but my favorite image is “Let There Be Light”

Ok, I’m just going to admit this upfront… I have a love/hate relationship with blogging! There are days i LOVE to blog and feel like I have so much to share or post. Other days, I think, I have nothing to say, nothing to share, nothing to post… yep… just plain nothing!

I do believe in blogging…. I think it is an amazing way to communicate. It can make an impact. It can encourage and inspire. It is certainly a large part of sharing my photography and helping my business continue to grow. I know it is valuable. There are so many positives…

But it does take some PLANNING and EFFORT – things that I am not always able or willing to muster up – especially after a long day of edits, running kids here and there and laundry. AND then I think to myself, who really cares anyway – is anyone out there REALLY reading my blog?

Well, even though you may not leave very many comments, I know you’re out there… Google Anaylytics TELLS me you are Gotta love analytic s! And Amazing Counters – sometimes they are the ONLY encouragement I have to keep blogging.

But for 2012, I’ve decided to take a look at the core motivation I had for starting a blog in the first place. WHY did I start to blog – what was my motivation? When I thought of this, one word kept playing in my mind. You can find that word in my intro. It’s been there from the very beginning…

Even my first blog (You can click here to peek at it) stated it in the first sentence: My hope is to INSPIRE you
and to share some of the BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS that I have managed to capture on my journey as a photographer and a person.

My current welcome on this blog says pretty much the same thing…

Capturing life, beauty in my photography – sharing this with you – and hopefully INSPIRING you in some way. That is the heart of why I do this…  That is what my heart set out to do from the very beginning.

Now – let’s be honest… my photography has turned into a full time business, which I LOVE, and my blog is a very useful part of maintaining that business, no doubt. But I think that I view blogging now more like “work” versus sharing and inspiring. That’s where I think I’ve developed the Love/Hate thing. I’ve lost a bit of my focus for blogging, my motivation, and I no longer want to feel that way for 2012.

So…. I HAVE made a few observations and decisions for 2012 regarding blogging that I’d like to share with you:

Observation: I’ve gotten the most comments when I’ve shared my heart on my blog.

Decisions: Blog from my heart more regularly – kind of a no brainer

Observation: I do loose LOTS of momentum/visitors when I do not blog regularly

Decision: Blog Regularly! ANOTHER no brainer!! Duh!

Observation: When I do blog posts that I think might INSPIRE you – I feel excited to blog.

Decision:  Stick with blogging things that motivate me and hopefully will  inspire you!

So I’m going to try a few new things this year on my blog. One example will be to have a few “regular weekly” posts – kinda like a regular column in a newspaper. Hopefully you’ll start to notice them consistently.

I’m also going to start a series called, So… you want to be a professional photographer?!” Since I get LOTS of people messaging me and asking about how I got started in this business, I’ve decided to share some of my experience with those thinking about making the jump to “pro photog”.  Just a small way I can hopefully inspire other newbie photographer’s out there.

I will also continue to share images from my shoots, but the truth is that I actually don’t share even half of the shoots I do on my blog. Yipes! Not sure how THAT happened. I guess I get so busy. But I’m going to at least try to share a few photos from every shoot… whew! Even just my favorite photo from the session – at the very least. Promise!

I can’t blog everyday…that’s just unrealistic for me. I’m a single mother – with three teens. There’s no way I can pull that off. I don’t think anyone would even check my blog everyday anyway.

My hope is to just start enjoying blogging again. To be more consistent.  To keep it simple, share from the heart,  and hopefully bring a bit of beauty and INSPIRATION your way!

Here’s to a great 2012!

Just for fun, here is a link to my first blog post ever: Titled “A New Dream, A New Journey”