Monday

Completely personal today...

This weekend I worked really hard on these designs that I was so excited to unveil today but after just reading a comment that popped in on the blog the new designs just have to wait... I want to say something...

THANK YOU! My heart is positively overwhelmed, I feel so incredibly blessed right now and it is because of you! Since coming back from WPPI, Go{4}Pro has increased traffic by 126%! SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE came to Go{4}Pro last week. There were months and months at the beginning where maybe 40 people stopped by in a day, and zero comments were left and if I'm being completely honest I was not very content with that. Truth be told... I've always dreamed so much biggert! I want to touch people, I want to inspire them! My ultimate dream is to teach and share and offer my passion in a personal environment that will enrich this industry.

I dream that I will leave the photography industry better then I found it by educating, mentoring and inspiring new photographers to dream and accomplish big. I can't believe I'm being so honest with just how lofty my goals really are! Well might as well go with it now... *blush* I love reaching out, I love connecting and I love having the opportunity to inspire and I just can't even believe that in one week 7,000 of you allowed me that opportunity! Now I'm crying. I am a huge cryer. If you ever meet me in person you are almost guaranteed to see me cry...  Any good deed or dream acquired gets me teary. Extreme Home Makeover... yep I cry before they ever even tell the story. The movie The Blind Side, I haven't even seen it yet but I cry through every preview. My childhood had a lot of pain and I honestly didn't believe there was any deep goodness in the world. As a child the world seemed selfish and cruel and it often left me broken and alone but as I grew up and once I truly found my faith I learned the most incredible thing, there is genuine good in this world - a lot of it. That epiphany left two things branded on my heart. The first was the awe I was left in at the genuine kindness that truly is all around us. That has never left me which explains why I get weepy for all good deeds. The second is that I wanted to live a life that would inspire others and share a genuine kindness and appreciation for those I'm blessed to meet. Ugg. I've gotten way off track... back to the beginning.

See when I was at that 40 a day mark, I asked a writer of a very big blog to do an interview and they didn't have time (I got that a lot at the beginning, and still often do). In the response back they said something about getting 10,000 hits a month - it stuck with me. I sat at my desk reading that number over and over and my thought was, 'so that's the number for successful? 10,000 a month. Okay then, that's my starting goal for Go{4}Pro.' It seemed extremely unrealistic at the time but I didn't care, I was going to aim for 10,000 hits per month to start. That's kind of pretty much how my brain works in a nutshell. *laugh* This all brings me to a comment I received today. The comment was on this post and it was from Tamara Lackey herself!! Do you know what her posting a comment means? It means that so many people clicked on that post that it showed up in her google analytics and she came to see what Go{4}Pro was - at least I think thats what it means? The irony is that it was this same post that left that one comment that snowballed into this post. I cried that day too, but it was the child in me crying - the one who felt alone and had experienced to much unfair cruelty in younger years. Never on that day, did I imagine Tamara herself leaving a comment!

And thats when I started to cry (the 'in awe' cry this time). I have received so many incredible emails from you guys - I can't even express what they mean to me! You give me so much encouragement. it truly leaves me breathless! Seriously, your comments make me giddy, your passion and interest in Go{4}Pro puts me on the edge of my seat because I want to give you more! For a period of my life I was very alone, I mentioned once that I ate lunch in the bathroom but that was far from the largest of my heartaches. I felt very alone in a big and scary world. Starting as a photographer can leave you feeling that same way. I want Go{4}Pro to be that happy place where you don't have to feel alone. Where encouragement, inspiration and dedication combine to lift and help improve your business and in turn our fantastic industry that I am so in love with. Do you want to know one of my biggest secrets? I want, "you have to check out Go{4}Pro" to be the first words any photographer says to an aspiring one! Oh wow. That would just be a.m.a.z.i.n.g. !!

Are you still reading this? If you are - wow and thank you for sticking with me! I guess I honestly mean that on a lot of levels. Thank you if this is the first post you're reading or if you check in daily, thank you for taking the time and I hope you will share Go{4}Pro with others. This is my dream and I don't believe dreams bloom with out nurturing from others!

I want to leave you with a reward for getting through this crazy long post (or maybe just for scrolling down! ;) i LOVE checking the blogs of those who leave comments! You may have even had me comment back on your blog! When ever a comment touches me I like to know more about who it's from!  One such time last week I was doing exactly that after reading a comment from Raquel of Remember When and when I saw these images... I was wowed! They were so fun to look at that I just wanted to show them off for Raquel! If you want to see the rest of this sneak peak from this session here is the link for the full post and make sure you leave some love behind for her!!
   

          


Thank you so much Raquel for letting me show off your beautiful images! 


31 comments:

  1. I actually watched that video clip of Tamara and learned quite a bit myself! Thanks for your dedication, you've certainly given me plenty of education~ Congrats on the huge readership - it's deserving:)

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  2. Your sincere heart has me tearing up. I'm a crier too. I feel completely touched that you share and mentor us in our journey. It is lonely when getting started in photography and thank you from the bottom of my heart for being our personal teacher!

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  3. You are so genuine and sweet. I know that only amazing things and wonderful blessings will be a great part of your life. Thank you for sharing my images. My heart is beating really fast right now (excited). :D

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  4. Just found your blog last night and it is perfect timing for me- LOVE LoVe love it!

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  5. I love your blog! Congrats on the increased traffic...it's so well deserved. Thank you for sharing Raquel's photos...now I have to check out her site! :) Can't wait to see the new designs.

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  6. Love this blog too! Just another newish photographer and you are the bomb for all you do. Thank you.

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  7. Congrats to you. I love reading your blog each day and am grateful that you continue to find inspiration despite the occasional naysayer who tries to belittle you.

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  8. Love your blog... don't know how I stumbled upon it but for the last few weeks it has been a fun read! Go You!!!!

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  9. This post is so touching and I am just thrilled for you. Not only has your blog been the very thing I've been searching for as an aspiring photographer, but you yourself with all you strive for are so inspiring to me. YOU make me want to try for more and reach higher. You are an inspiration to us all. I check your blog daily and I plan to tell all my aspiring photog friends to check your blog out too. It is just what we all need. So congrats Leah and keep up the good work!

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  10. I just wanted to thank you. I have just started a photography business...still in the portfolio building stage. I have been reading your site. Thanks for everything!

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  11. I just want to say... Thank You! I love your blog and it is now a daily blog read for me! I can't wait to see what I am going to learn about everyday!

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  12. Your blog is great so helpful and honest. I have the TL book also,very informative.

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  13. I just found you through Amy Wenzel's blog and I cannot tell you how happy I am to find it! I completely and totally get the whole empty blog comments thing- I get 40-70 hits for a new shoot and one or no comments. It can be discouraging. I can't wait to poke around more!

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  14. I just love you Leah! You have given all of us so much, you are a true gem in this world. I hope we get to meet in person someday.

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  15. Well said, I'm there! :) Great post!

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  16. Leah, thank you for your giving heart and inspiration! I'm just starting out and you give me hope with every post that I can achieve my dreams too. Keep up the good work!

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  17. ever since i found you, i now come each day to see what's new. keep up the great awesome work. love this site and you. you're so funny and inspiring. love that!!!

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  18. You are so amazing. I knew you could do it, and I am so glad I was brave enough to email you...I love editing your posts. It makes me feel even more connected to such an inspiring and wonderful woman.

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  19. "I felt very alone in a big and scary world. Starting as a photographer can leave you feeling that same way. I want Go{4}Pro to be that happy place where you don't have to feel alone. Where encouragement, inspiration and dedication combine to lift and help improve your business and in turn our fantastic industry that I am so in love with"

    It IS a happy place here. Thank you for your hard work and sleepless nights.

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  20. Congatulations! I just found your blog a week or so ago through Amy Wenzel. I'm so glad That I did.

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  21. Leah thanks so much taking the time to share! My sister passed the details of this blog on to me and now your on my list of blogs to visit while having my morning cuppa (even before i check out Jasmine Star ;)

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  22. Hi Leah,
    I found your blog through Amy Wenzel's blog last week. I have been stalking, oops I mean visiting it daily since then.
    I just want to commend you on what you are doing. You are a great and wonderful person for what you are doing.
    I've been sharing links with my local photo club. Would you mind if I shared the link to your blog?

    Keep up the great work!!!

    Julie

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  23. Leah, You are fabulous! I love your blog and recommend it to my "mentees" that I have the priviledge of educating. I am in the process of a "new Look" that was inspired by your ideas in your head for yours, which is beautiful BTW! I have learned tons here and just want 5 straight hours to go back to your beginning. I will keep tuning in and sending others your way. You are inspiration my friend!

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  24. Just wanted to thank you again for this wonderful blog. I am learning so much from you as I'm just starting to launch into my own photography business. So much to think about! It sure is nice to turn to your blog and read and learn from your thoughts and experiences. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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  25. Thank you for sharing such a personal message. I'm just starting out, haven't had my first paying client yet, and love your blog, your logo, and especially your marketing kits! It can feel kind of lonely and scary when you're starting out, so it is nice to at least "meet" fellow photographers this way!

    And thanks for sharing Raquel's photos too! Beautiful!

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  26. Keep on keeping on! You're obviously doing something right. Love your site!

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  27. You all are amazing and so inspiring to me! Seriously! I am just tickled pink! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! THANK YOU!! So much love back at you!

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  28. Thankyou? Your welcome honey :^) thanks for all the great tips, have passed the url for this site onto a few friends and they are now stalking/following you along side the rest of us, haha

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  29. What a truly heartwarming post. After reading that, I just thought I'd share with you that I am a brand new photographer. I'm not even a photographer! I just bought a nice DSLR, and I am learning to shoot with it. I have a lot of dreams for myself as well, but mostly I just want good pictures of my family for me. Anyway, a friend of mine told me that an essential website for me to start following was yours. So guess what...I don't think your too far off from your lofty dreams. Congrats!

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  30. when I read this post I just felt like an angel had touched me:) I love you will to be honest and share yourself! And I'm so glad that we have these times an opportunity to find amazing people even if they live in the other side of the world. Thank you! And greating from Estonia;)

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