abriana photography :: blog

I’m the kind of person who always thinks I have to choose one or the other. All of one thing means nothing of another. For example, I thought that if I was a mom, then I was supposed to be an at-home mom. I taught high school English for a year before I had Giovanni, always knowing I’d be done when I had a baby. And then when I had Giovanni, I did stay home for his first 5 months, but Ryan wanted to go back to school, so back to teach I went. Giovanni went to a wonderful in-home daycare provider (seriously, if you are in Fort Collins, please click on the link and contact Ms. Bridgit- she’s amazing!!), and Ryan went to school. So I spent a few years of teaching wishing I was an at-home mom.

And then I had Eilin and Ryan was working full-time so I became an at-home mom. And I loved it!! I love taking them to story time, and being available for them when they need. I also loved the time I had for my business. I could take on as many sessions as I wanted, and in the evenings and afternoons during dual nap time, I could focus solely on my business. It was a time of great learning for me. There was a real, deep joy I experienced being home with my two babies. But as the year wore on, I started to realize that I missed teaching. I missed curriculum, and teaching, and planning, and contributing to our family’s financial well-being.

I used to think that if I started my business, then it meant that I didn’t want to be a teacher anymore. I spent a few years of teaching wishing I was a photographer. And when I realized I wanted to go back to teaching, and got offered a position at an amazing school, I felt torn. I told Ryan, “I’ll have to give up my business!!” Ryan replied, in his simple way, in the way he always knows what to say, “Why would you do that?” He was right. Why would I do that?!

So I’ve made a decision. I’m doing both. I’m doing it all. And I’m planning on doing it all well– with a plan. I used to feel torn between everything- motherhood, being a wife, owning a business, teaching… how could I possibly have time for it all? I’ve done a lot of research over the last few months about how to do it all. And every single piece of advice I’ve found tells me the same things: plan and stick to your plan. Have discipline. Be present to the task at hand. So, here I go.

Abriana Photography will now be taking a very limited number of portrait sessions per month.

This means that despite me going back to teaching full-time, we are still in business, and very much thriving!! I’m excited about my current clients, and have been busy with them and their orders.

We have a few spots left for the rest of 2012, so if you are interested in creating artwork for your home featuring your family, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me! abriana@abrianachilelliphotography.com