2022 is gearing up to be a big year. It brings a lot of changes, some big and some not so big. But here’s one I'm excited to share.
If I've learned anything over the past two years, it pays to be prepared. At the onset of the first government shutdown, I wasn't panicked by the financial threat of the pandemic. I learned years ago to set aside time monthly to review my business' financials and stay current on my bookkeeping. Of course, at the time, we had all hoped that we'd be able to ride out the pandemic for a few months. I had predicted early on that we'd all be in the clear by September 2020 - if everyone worked together to stop the spread - (we all know how that turned out). Then, with the incredible help offered by the Small Business Administration, I was fortunate enough to sail my ship through the rough seas and come out the other side relatively unscathed. During the expedition, the beast inside that always wanted to pursue a new career path was awakened, and I thought, if not today, then when?
West elevation of the Wren Building at The College of William and Mary.
It's been a longtime goal of mine to pursue a Master's degree, and it took the global pandemic of 2020/2021 (and ongoing) to give me the push in the right direction. I'm 3/8 of the way through an Online Master of Science in Finance program at The Raymond A. Mason School of Business at The College of William & Mary (and, currently rocking a 4.0, I'm happy to add). This is a whole new world to me. We're studying the fundamental framework of finance in the real world. And, we're discussing policy and theory while also learning how to forecast financial statements, discount free cash flows, and calculate the net present value of… you get the idea.
So, what does this mean for my photography? Well, for the present moment, not a whole lot has changed. I'm still out on assignments (I'm just taking on fewer jobs to balance my course load). Later this year, I'll be pounding the pavement and interviewing for opportunities in the finance world. Whether in real estate investments, investment management, or an internal corporate finance team. I'd like to explore my options and find a fit that supports my goals. I'd love to be a part of a great team of people who care about the world we live in and believe that the work they do makes a difference.
I, by no means, expect to hit the ground running. And, I will never entirely abandon photography. Its been a passion of mine since I was a teenager. If clients of mine would like to continue working with me, I'll be happy to occasionally find the time to fit in a few gigs. I'll also stay up to date on the latest gear and software, so when I step back up to the plate, I'll be able to do so seamlessly.
Of course, this new direction will also allow me the freedom to explore more personal photography projects. I'll be sure to keep everything updated around the web so you can see what I'm up to.