Life is such a wild journey.
Wow, I cannot believe I’m writing this, but here I am celebrating 21 years in the photography & videography business.
We go through so many chapters, some really, really incredibly amazing ones, and then some really, really horrible ones. For the past 21 years, my business has been through all of those chapters with me.
So much growth, so many changes.
I never in a million years expected any of it.
I was just fresh out of high school when someone offered to pay me to be their videographer, and I thought to myself, “Wow, someone wants to pay me for this?!” Then that person referred me to their friends, and slowly, this domino effect happened. Before I knew it, I was meeting with an accountant and a lawyer to set up my business.
While I am so incredibly thankful for all my mentors along the way, my amazing clients, and of course, my family and friends, there is one person I have learned to really celebrate lately, and that person is myself.
Phew, why does that take so much effort?!
If you know me, you know I never, ever give myself any credit. I love lifting others, supporting them, and watching everyone else succeed. But lately I’ve started to learn that as humans, we are way too hard on ourselves and that we need to start celebrating ourselves more, especially when we hit big milestones like this.
As I look back at the thousands of videos I’ve created and the millions of photos I’ve taken, I am in awe at everything I have accomplished.
I built this photography and video production business on my own, from the ground up… that’s pretty incredible.
According to Google, “roughly 20% to 23% failing within the first year and about 50% failing within five years. By the 10-year mark, approximately 65% of businesses have closed.”
Here I am at 21 years…!!
I’m not perfect, boy, do I know that, but I also know that I’ve given it my all and that I work so very hard for all of my clients. Every single shoot, every single time. Not only because it is my job or because I’m a perfectionist, but because that’s just what happens when your career is fueled by that passion within you.
I didn’t choose this path, this path was already predesigned for me. I know that for sure.
They say business isn’t personal, but it is to me.
The last couple of years have been some of the hardest ones personally, and in a way, my business is what continues to push me upwards every single time.
I remember one day in particular, it was the morning after I had experienced a horrible personal situation, but I had a shoot with a dear client, so I showed up and went to work. During my time there, I was so focused on the project that for a moment, my personal situation didn’t exist. I could have canceled, but I knew that going would have helped me, and most importantly, I knew that I was going to be able to switch off everything else to give my client the full attention they deserved, so it was a win-win. (To this day that client had no idea anything had happened less than 24 hours before that shoot).
Having said that, please know, it’s 1000% ok to cancel and take care of yourself first always, especially if you know you won’t be able to deliver what the client paid for.
Being able to have a career that supports me like this is an incredible gift.
If you know me, then you also know that I’m a huge cheerleader of pushing people to find that passion and ensure that your work is something that lifts you and supports you, not only financially but also overall as a human.
Does your job inspire you? Does it excite you? Does it make you lose track of time? If not, I urge you to search deep within yourself and find out what your passion is and make that your job!
So many stories, so many lessons learned, so much growth…. and so much to be grateful for over the last 21 years, providing photography and videography services to clients all over the Tampa Bay area and beyond.
Thank you for being a part of my journey, and I can’t wait to see where Anna Faiola Productions LLC takes me next!!
Anna Faiola is a photographer and videographer serving the Tampa Bay area since 2005.
For details on her services, visit www.afpshoots.com.
Follow her journey of encouraging others to chase their dreams and start their own passion business on her Instagram account.
Celebrating 21 Years of Photography & Videography