Yesterday marked SIXTEEN years of Terri Gillis Photography. I love celebrating this anniversary of the day I took a leap of faith.  I had a toddler on my hip as I walked accross the Calder Stage area  to the county building to register my business with a skip in my step and a dream in my heart.  To everyone else it’s just an ordinary day but that day put me on a journey I couldn’t have every even dreamed of.  I am such a sentimental person so celebrating this anniversary, even if it’s only me celebrating, is not something I overlook or take lightly.

These 16 years have required A LOT of learning and exploring and just good old-fashioned work.  Snapping pictures is fun but this is a business and for it to be successful it required me to invest my heart and soul.  The return on that has been so much more than a paycheck.  I’ve traveled near and far and had the opportunity to learn from some absolutely amazing photographers including Michelle Celentano, Jasmine Star, Susan Stripling, Laura Brett and my absolute favorite…. Anne Geddes.  I’ve been to Hawaii (HAWAII!!!! If I didn’t have the images to prove it I wouldn’t beleive it myself!).  I’ve witnessed births and the miracle of that first breath…… I’ve also had the opportunity to photograph some people who knew it would be their last photos ever and would pass on shortly thereafter and the joy that would come with having those photos.  I’ve watched kids grow up, I’ve photographed over 300 (THREE HUNDRED!!) weddings.  Those weddings have become the foundation of my business as I’ve gone on to photograph many famlies as they’ve grown. ( It’s amazing!!)  I’ve learned so much about computers & graphic design and it has really become a huge love of mine.  I never learned to speak another launguage but I’m fluent in Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and THAT is something.  I’ve cut back significantly on weddings.  I still take them, I just don’t push for them.  After working weekends all summer long for 15 years I felt like I was ready to step back from that.  I love having summer weekends off with my husband. To fill in that gap I take a lot of design work now and I really REALLY enjoy it.  Designing cards, books, albums has always been part of my routine but in the last year I’ve added logos, invitaiton, a little bit of web design, marketing materials….. and I even do a little bit of business consulting and have helped a few people launch their own businesses!

So after 16 years, I can tell you this…. I am so grateful for every single opportunity that has been put in front of me. For every face that has graced my camera and my life.  Grateful for every session, wedding, child, project that I have been entrusted with.  Grateful for every mile I’ve driven, every click of my shutter, every day that I’ve had to throw a camera bag or a briefcase over my shoulder and head out the door.  It has been an amazing journey and I’m thankful to call it mine.

For the free download of my design above just click HERE!  ENJOY!!

CHEERS TO A SWEET 16 YEARS!

I wrestle with the fact (almost daily) that I haven’t blogged for over a year. Why haven’t I you ask? So many reasons…. mainly, I think I’m the only one who ever reads it. I was also a little burned out. Burned out on the hustle of photography, burned out from the schedule, exhausted from working and I needed a break from anything I could get one from, so the blog was the first to go….. and then it was the photography. I needed to put some space in there to see what it was that kept me working this job that seemed to be taking me down. Being a photographer became my identity… and without a camera hanging around my neck I felt a little lost…. and a little empty. When you realize people only are calling or reaching out to me, sometimes inviting me to things…. because they need a photographer. And my social calendar, without a camera, is nearly non-existant. I had a deep desire to change this but terrified that if I stepped away from it, it would be the equivalent of stepping out of my soul. Truly terrifying. And what if this really was all there was to me? But I had to do it….. and I did. After a 7 month hiatus with only limited contact with my equipment, some serious soul searching and “weeding” things out of my life,  14 months later I feel so differently about everything. Having an opportunity to step back and regain my perspective. It hasn’t been easy and the most difficult part is to be careful not to fall back into old habits. I love this job, and the amazing blessing it has been in my life, but I love having an identity… and not just a job.  For the first time in 10 years we took a summer vacation. I also attended a wedding as a guest (and realized how difficult it was for me to enjoy a wedding without photographing it) I was the equivalent of a fish out of water. My Mom is battling cancer and that has sort of rocked our world and it was another thing that gave me permission to step back a little and not take on the same hefty workload that I might otherwise have. I also had an opportunity dropped in my lap to do graphic design with the flexibility to work at home or in the office and never dreamed how much I would truly enjoy the comraderie of co-workers.

Where is she going with this?? Success doesn’t just come in the form of your paycheck. It comes with anything you want it to. Some days success is getting in the shower before my kids go to school, or getting through my to-do list, actually having a phone call with a friend and not just a series of texts. It’s time with my husband and kids, chatting at the kitchen table with my Mom, completing a project for a client, photographing an awesome newborn session or trying a new recipe and actually having it work out (thank you Pinterest for the pressure!). Whatever hat I’m wearing at the moment…. Wife, Mom, daughter, aunt, friend, seamstress, photographer, designer, chef, makeup artist, maid, baby whisperer my goal is and will be to simply seize the day and enjoy moments that I just am completely unwilling to miss out on….. Carpe Diem!

This is just a small splash of some of the sessions I’ve done in the last year that just made my heart sing.   My family that I love to care for, my husband who I simply could not adore more than I already do, some new clients and some old one’s…. Some of these faces I look at and am overwhelmed by the miracle staring back at me.  Selecting after a year of not posting was painful…. I would love to post one from every single session time and energy are a precious commodity…. and  I have to go make dinner now and an evening with my crew awaits. Happy Leap Day!  DAY it forward!!  I hope you WIN! XO!

Terri Gillis 616-550-8997 or email gillisphoto@mac.com for more information.

I take a limited amount of newborns every month and am implementing a new program for all of my newborns with session/disk deals that you won’t be able to resist.  Newborns MUST be younger than 14 days (6-10 days is my fav).  Call me for the 411! 616.550.8997.

This is what I love to do, probably more than anything.  I was born to do just this.

One of my favorite moments is when new parents peel back the blanket and see that little face, it’s equivalent to Christmas morning for me. I just never get tired of it.  I love working with newborns…. I love how warm and cozy are…..I love how they sink into your chest or how they fold up in my hands….. I love how sweet and peaceful they are when the sleep…..I love how they gaze around a room, listening for their Momma’s voice…..Sometimes newborn sessions can get messy but then I bring home baby laundry and my house smells like Dreft.

Here are some of the sweet faces I’ve worked with, some recently and some at the end of 2010.  My newborn specials continue to go on, I still have opening for 2 more for March!!  If you are expecting or know someone who is expecting have them contact me….I have some great specials that should not be missed!

Enjoy!

So I love black Friday and cyber Monday as much as all of you, who doesn’t want a great deal?  I’ve had a fantastic year this year and to show my appreciation I’m doing something I have never done and that’s offer a gift certificate special. I’m offering 4 gift certificate options for 2012 sessions from now until 11:59pm on 11/28/11.  Each certificate is discounted $50!

Click here to purchase!

If you’ve been neglecting getting your family photo done or you know someone who is having a baby, this is a gift you or your loved one will absolutely love, long after your iPad2 has passed.  I recently read a post on why people put off getting their family photo done, 2 reasons….1.) the same old excuse….I don’t like how I look, I hate my hair, I need to lose weight….2.) $$$.   Let me address both of those…I love every photo I have of my parents as well as my husband’s family.  I’ve asked a few people recently…”Do you ever look at your family photos and say…I would love this photo if only my mom was a little thinner or her hair styled differently?”…Isn’t that ridiculous? of course not!!  ….Secondly, my clients who have said to me….”when we first getting our kids photographed it seemed expensive and we weren’t sure we wanted to do it, as our kids have grown we look back and are so happy we made this investment, they grew up so fast, we can’t imagine not having our photos.  They’re memories we can’t afford to live without”. A to the MEN!

It’s time people!! Commit to having fabulous photos in 2012! Gift certificate are available for purchase until 12/17/11 but only on sale until 11:59pm on 11/28/11.

Certificates will be mailed directly to you but can be mailed elsewhere if you indicate that in your order.  Sessions must take place before 10/1/12 and expire on 11/1/12 (because its just not pretty outside after that).

Can’t wait to see your beautiful smiles in 2012!

And seriously, is there anything sweeter than a Dad that just can’t bring himself to cut off his hospital bracelet?   Baby love is the best!