04/13/2026
Lawd. I hate these posts but here goes...
*
I want to do a quick reminder about boundaries. As an old lady who has run her business for SEVENTEEN years (as of July), they become more and more important as the years go by.
*
To be fair, I know sometimes I get lax, and it comes back to bite me every single time, so this is for myself as much as it is my clients. 🙂 And no, I'm not singling out anyone, and this isn't a personal attack. It's simply just a reminder, so I can keep running the business NOT like a squirrel at a rave. 🙂
*
When it comes to "special" locations (aka specific types flowers, apples, snow, etc), there's a LOT that I have no control over. When I post and email about these sessions, I make it VERY clear that there needs to be some flexibility because I can't control the weather, bloom times, light and nature in general. If you don't have a flexible schedule, that's totally understandable. It just means that these locations may not be for you and that's totally fine. You can still have a beautiful session at another location that doesn't have so many variables. There are plenty of locations around the Tri State that don't require such finite timing. 🙂
*
Bottom line? This isn't Burger King and you can't always have it your way. I think I do about two sessions a year where the universe aligns and everything works out PERFECTLY- not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, not too humid, location is perfect, parking is a breeze, session works seamlessly into the schedule, etc.... 99% of the time, we control what we can and then work with the variables. :)
*
Second, PLEASE don't commit unless you're 110% sure this is something you can and want to do with a specialized location. Many of these locations are outside the 275 loop because we just don't have a bunch of flower fields and apple orchards within the 275 (actually almost none). That means that I can only travel to them a limited amount of times due to the drive. I keep a list for each spot of families who are committed to shooting at each specialized location. Normally, I take deposits; however, this March/April, I got a little thrown off by the snow and the bloom times were WAY off from previous years. That said, I didn't send out the deposits for specialized location flower sessions as quickly as I normally do (the ones for general outdoor sessions - family, seniors, fine art, etc. - are going out tonight). All this to say that if you tell me you're committed and then pull back last minute, I can't guarantee booking a spot for you at future locations. It's just not fair to me or other clients I'm trying to book. If this doesn't work, again that's no problem! I understand and there are a lot of other options that I offer. 🙂
*
I hope all this makes sense. These boundaries are simply so I can continue running my business without jumping off a ledge lol. I try never to post "woe is me" type stuff when it comes to business because I know how overall blessed I am and that all businesses have hiccups (and frankly no one cares about them lol). I generally keep things pretty steady (I actually figured out the other week that I haven't changed my prices since 2018) and try not to throw curve balls because I appreciate all the support I've had over the years.
*
Thank you for all the love, support and understanding! Looking forward to seeing so many of you in 2026! 🙂 And as always, if you have questions - just ask! :)
🥰
xoxo,
Jackie
P.S. Beautiful self portrait by me - don't be jealous lol :)
