04/17/2023
Hello, my long-lost friends! As you may have noticed, this page has been silent for months. I was taking some time to quietly adjust to significant changes in my own life, but now it is time to fill you all in! Today is a big day for the business you and I have created together. April 17th, 2023 marks ONE DECADE since opening Michelle Rose Photography. It’s been an incredible journey for me. I’ve been witness to some of the most intimate moments in the lives of my customers and have always felt such a deep sense of honor and gratitude for these opportunities. There have been countless moments that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life. This career has always been about relationships with people for me, which is why it makes the next part of my announcement emotional to say.
I have made the choice to close Michelle Rose Photography. Although I have a few obligations to finish up, I will no longer be taking on any new sessions. While this decision came with a wide range of not-so-easy emotions, it also comes with an overwhelming amount of relief and excitement.
The relief stems from running a business solo and trying to manage demands that eventually took a large toll on my mental and physical health. To the photographers and entrepreneurs who’ve been in my shoes, I know you understand. I hope you are able to create the support system you need to make your business sustainable for your life. Like many of us, I am a recovering perfectionist and had pushed myself too hard for far too long. There were many times I paid the price with my own health and sacrificing critical time with my loved ones. Yet, it was so difficult to walk away from a career I felt so passionately about, which brings me to my excitement.
I am excited to fill you in on what’s next! Last Fall I accepted a position at Sweet Alice Floral and their NEW sister company, Golden Afternoon Design Co as a social media manager and photographer. Working here has allowed me to use the skills I’d developed over the 10 years I spent running my own business, while also expanding and exploring new creative avenues. Sweet Alice is a sustainability-focused company, owned and led by women. It has given me a feeling of community I had not realized I desperately needed.
I feel at peace. I feel supported. My heart is filled with gratitude and love, not only for my current opportunities but for the people and experiences that led me here. I am deeply thankful to each of you that has been a part of my story. I would be thrilled for you to check out what I’ve been up to and follow along with us at Sweet Alice & Golden Afternoon Design Co. We have been working on a project with local, women-led small businesses that are creating positive changes in the world. It has been exceptionally inspiring to hear their stories and have the opportunity to use photography in a new way.
And speaking of supporting other women in business, Rayns Photography LLC and Crystel Becker Photography are two phenomenally talented photographers that have been such an inspiration for me to watch grow. If you are on the hunt for a new photographer, I leave you in their incredibly capable hands.
“There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.” – Unknown
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I am forever grateful.
XOXO, Michelle
