Hey, it’s me, Karena!
Three years ago today, our family packed up all of our belongings and relocated to our new home in Stony Plain, Alberta. It also happens to be when I really started to get this small business off the ground! I had officially (for tax purposes) started my business January 1st of 2016. However, we moved here May 3rd and this is what I consider to be the anniversary of Everlast Photography! So, as of today, Everlast Photography is 3 years old! Woohoo!
I have learned and grown so much over the last three years. And, I have met some of the most wonderful clients! I am so grateful for each and every client I have met and who has chosen me to capture their family’s most special moments! And, a big thank you to all for supporting my small business and in-turn, our family!
In the past three years, my business has grown and so has my art. I can see, with each portrait session, small changes and small improvements that have accumulated into big changes and big improvements! I have invested in my education multiple times in an effort to advance my skills and to be able of offer my wonderful clients my best. I am also fortunate that I’ve been able to invest is some of the best equipment so that I can make sure every photograph I produce is of the highest quality. I’ve spent hours and hours (and a few dollars) searching out the world’s best printers and craftsmen so that I am confident I am offering the best prints possible to my clients. I am proud of where I’ve taken this small business in the last three years.
I have also made the greatest friends! The Edmonton photography community has been so open and welcoming. I have gained some real honest friends that I can count on and rely on and who can rely on me when needed. It’s such a great feeling! I remember being apprehensive about moving to Parkland County because I really didn’t know many people. I had one friend in Edmonton and my Mother and Father-in-Law lived in Stony Plain. So, I count myself lucky that this quiet and introverted mom of two was able to make connections and build friendships in a relatively short amount of time. I am so lucky to have met the right people at the right time and to be welcomed into their circles.
Since we relocated, we have moved once more and settled in Spruce Grove. We found our perfect home here and are very happy to raise our family here! This community is small but busy and very connected. I love being in a smaller sized community but also being so close to Edmonton. It’s a short drive to the mall or to my favourite fabric store - the best of both worlds! I do photograph in my home studio a lot, but I still offer studio sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert. So, it’s easy for me (and clients) to choose the best location.
As I look back, I am really happy with where we’ve come from and where we are now, as a family. And, I am really happy with the direction my business is going. I am so grateful every day that I get to call this my job! And, I know that wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of everyone around me. Thank you for supporting my business! Even just reading this blog post or liking a photo on social media is a big support for small businesses like mine and it means the world to me that you care!
I can’t wait to see where Everlast Photography is three years from now!
Karena