Each year I host an in person workshop for beginner photographers which includes a collab with fellow industry business owners. This year, being the fifth year in a row, I advertised for an overnight retreat and the honest truth? It FLOPPED big time.
I was gutted. Hours of preparation turned into a failed mission. I asked for feedback and what I heard back was the price tag was too high, which was a fair argument. Maybe others weren’t interested in an overnight stay, maybe the value wasn’t advertised clearly enough, or maybe it just isn’t what the people are after.
I stopped guessing and starting reevaluating the unclear path forward.
I journaled.
“What do I love, and what am I good at?”
I love: Jesus, people, families. art, weddings, dogs, traveling, making my house a home, antique stores, Saturday markets, community and nature.
What am I good at?: Photography, community, traveling, welcoming people into my home, being curious about peoples’ stories.
You see, I realised that this ‘failure’ actually was the exact refocus of my attention that I needed to hone in on my own photography rather than split my attention to building other peoples’ business up. Maybe that will be on the cards later, but for right now, I will nurture the very next step ahead of me.
I regularly have to remind myself that the ‘what ifs’ only exist in my mind, they’re not even in existence… Until it came to August 2026.
The next step right in front of me in that moment happened to be a month long trip to The USA to photograph weddings in Milwaukee and Chicago, followed by a handful of family and couples’ photoshoots across Ottawa, Illinois.
I visited my cousins lake house in Saugatuck, Michigan, then met my sister in Nashville, Tennessee, to spend time with more family.
Following this, we flew to North Carolina for the best two days of my life. We went to a handful of beaches, caught a ferry to Southport where we had a fresh seafood broil and oysters from Moore Street Oyster Bar.
I bought my favorite hot sauce I have ever had in my life. And finally, we flew back to Arizona to spend time with my sisters family before parting ways and ending the trip back in Chicago.
My heart felt like it was on fire while simultaneously split in two directions. I envisioned a life where I could spend the summer months in Illinois or traveling across the US with photography, then coming home for the warmer months in Australia to photograph weddings here.
I daydreamed about what church I would regularly attend, the people I would meet, and even a little home with a detached garage to store my 1994 Ford F150 in during the winter months.
Psalm 37:4 reads, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” And man alive, do I have some dreams.
Upon arriving home, I spent my jet lag 4am hours making my house feel more American, more like home. If my dream of living in two countries wont be happening this year.. I will bring the Midwest right here, to little ol’ South Australia.
The progress between Dec 2024 and Sep 2026.
So, looking into 2027 the goal is to put everything I have into my business. To nurture my future, nurture my clients, build this dream up and see what 2028 holds for me (and Olive, my sweet border collie)
That’s all from me for now, folks.
Kenzi St George Photography
