FestiBelt Adventures

I've been putting off my post because I was hoping to have my brand new website up and running to WOW you all, but let's just catch up on this one thing…. I'm going to start a business!!! A photography business! I'm super excited about it and here is the story of how I finally figured out that this is what I really wanted to do.

Erica and I were stuck in a horrible traffic jam outside of Seattle a week ago and decided to make the most of our 2 hrs inching along I-5.

Erica: Since we're not going anywhere, let's figure out what you wanna do with your life- that's part of the reason you came to Portland this summer, right?

Adrienne: Absolutely. It was time to find something I felt passionately about…

E: So, have you considered going to back to school?
A: I just paid off my undergrad loans so I'll only go back to school for something I REALLY want to do and I'm not sure what that is yet…

E: OK- what ARE your passions?
A: Youth programming, travel, photography, keeping busy.

E: So- what about doing international trips with kids?

A: It seems right up my alley, but I'd love to settle in somewhere, not move around so much and have a baby.

E: What about creating something that can be your baby? Like a small business? What about photography? (Then she says some super complimentary things about my photos. Thanks E!)

A: Hmmmm… THAT seems… perfect! AHHHHH!!! THAT IS PERFECT!!!!

And then we got to list making and name choosing and pros and cons and last week I picked a name… ADRIENNE LEE PHOTOGRAPHY! Say it out loud! It's got a nice ring to it! Now, I have always loved taking pix, ever since my first camera, that had a disk of film (like a ViewMaster) but hadn't considered it as any more than a hobby. Until that traffic jam. It seems silly… but I had never given photography serious career consideration until then. The past week, I've bought a domain name, watched a whole bunch of online classes about the complexities of self-hosting a website and ordered a tripod. I'm scouting locations to shoot my Portland friends, sorting through insane amounts of photos and nannying 2 little kids. Here they are…

These are from my fancy camera, but quickly edited on my ipad… Getting LightRoom is on my to-do list!

Thanks so much for reading this and for thinking happy thoughts of this new venture. I've got so much to do… I'll be sending out electronic releases so I can use photos I've taken of you or your gorgeous kid or handsome puppy on my new website. I'm working on becoming a professional! 🙂 Thanks to ERICA for the encouragement + the cottage, DAD for the cameras + inspiration, thanks to anyone who ever told me that they appreciate having photos I've taken. And an extra shout-out goes to the Trentacostas who insisted on treating me like a professional when I snapped some photos of them for their Christmas card last year. Life is good!