Anyone remember the Coronacation of 2020? I do, because it’s happening as I (re)write this About Me thing. (I hate About Me things. Does anyone even read these?!)
Two months ago, I would have said. ‘I’m Rocheal! My life revolves around working on my business and loving on my clients. I’m obsessed with documenting all things love, and I’m currently surviving on way too much coffee.’
My business was thriving, I was energized, and (almost) my entire existence revolved around figuring out how to make this photography business I’d created into the incredible dream I always imagined it would be.
And then COVID-19 hit. And whether it was a crazy pandemic that we all should have been 100% worried about, or whether it was a very seriously illness that clearly affected some of us seriously and some of us not-so-seriously, it happened. And it happened to us all.
And my business shifted.
Suddenly my inbox went from 20 or more emails a day to none. My phone went from so much ringing to a lot of silent. Weddings canceled. Weddings rescheduled. Money left my bank account in sums no one would want to believe.
And I turned around, and suddenly I wasn’t so busy.
In the beginning of March, I was using every possible minute to check email, answer texts, and return phone calls because my business was growing and I was determined to keep it that way.
In the middle of March, I didn’t have an excuse to step away from my family because my phone. wasn't. ringing. My. inbox. wasn't. alerting. My clients weren’t waiting on me.
But my kids were.
And so today, on April 11, 2020, my About Me looks a little different:
Hi, I’m Rocheal. Owner of Rocheal Photography
My life revolves around finding ways to make someone’s day a little brighter, every single day. Yesterday I washed my husband’s clothes (believe it or not, he usually does it himself!) and today, when I noticed he didn’t put them away, I did it.
And I bet he smiled. :)
I have two kids: Kellen is almost 13 (HOW do I have an almost teenager?!) and William is 3. You’re probably wondering the obvious: what’s up with the age gap?
Jesus gifted Kellen to my ex-husband and I when we were very (very) young. Kellen is an incredible young man who makes his mark on me every single day. He’s wise beyond his years, protective over the world’s underdogs, and obsessed with super heroes on a ridiculous sort of level.
William, his 3 year old brother, is pretty much the complete opposite. :) I guess he’s a typical 3-year old? He asks me to pull over my car when we’re driving so he can “see the engine when it’s loud”, loves stealing the old Halloween candy out of the pantry (gross! Why don’t we throw it away?!), and enjoys getting work done around the house. (Seriously, the kid pulls weeds and stuff)
My husband, Will, is pretty awesome. Much like William, Will also loves to work. He can fix virtually anything known to man and can also create incredible contraptions to solve pretty much any problem. He’s resourceful, witty, and massively selfless.
He’s in his ten-billionth year in retail management and we’re in our 6th year of marriage. Our favorite thing to do lately is go hiking in the woods. When Will is at work, the kids and I will take our new lab puppy to the river and watch her make a full of herself in the water. We’ve made a resolution to spend more quality time together as a family.
It’s a BLAST!
My business is, much like my clients, so precious to me.
I used to be a teacher :) But I swapped my classroom for a camera, and haven’t looked back. I’ve fully booked my calendar since opening my business doors, and I know in my soul that I’m sitting in my purpose.
I know my business will grow and evolve from a Wedding Photographer to something more, but right now I am cool as a cucumber. I love loving on my clients, making marriages brighter, and saving memories for people I cherish along the way.
My favorite venues are full of bright, natural light where my style shines best. My dream clients are happy, vibrant, and full of jokes (good and bad!). I love laughing with people, and people love laughing at me.
I want the world to smile a little more. For now, I’m helping just a little with my camera.
xoxo,
Rocheal