Why did I put down my camera and leave a successful portrait photography business? I’ll tell you all the details for wanting to switch to a virtual career as a Private Photo Editor. The motivation for doing so. How it quickly became way bigger than I ever expected – and what I’m doing now, almost 4 years later.
The motivation for switching to a virtual career as a Private Photo Editor came way later than the moment I actually began editing for photographers. I know. Seems a bit backwards, right? I’ll explain.
In the fall of 2015, a group of other photog gals in the Charlotte area (where we used to live) went on a weekend girls trip to Charleston, SC. While there, it came to light that I actually loved the editing part of being a photographer. Much to my surprise, I had no idea that editing was something that most photographers either didn’t enjoy or just got tired of doing.
Soon after that trip, I began editing for photography friends that I had gotten to know through the Tuesdays Together meetups by the Rising Tide Society. I took on anyone and everyone – portrait photographers, wedding photographers, established photographers, new photographers. It was exciting to have so much interest!
A Virtual Career is Born
The new year came. It was the beginning of 2016. Changes were happening in my personal life. My husband and I were beginning to dream a big dream. We wanted to leave our comfortable careers in Charlotte, and hit the road to live as full-time RVers. But how? Neither of us had a virtual career; a career that would allow us to travel the country.
It was the motivation I needed to start taking my Private Photo Editing business more seriously. It lit a fire under my butt, and I got to work. Jon and I had come up with a goal income that we would need to live comfortably on the road as full-time travelers. I thought it was going to take forever to reach that goal.
All I can say is, “God is good, y’all.” He came through for us in big ways. Within just three months, I had a client list of wedding photographers large enough to meet our goal income. Three months! When does that ever happen in self-employment? It was the sign we had been searching for; the confirmation we needed that this dream of ours was actually supposed to happen.
I had a virtual career! That was the beginning of it all. It’s been almost 4 years since then. We ended up hitting the road in our camper January 12, 2017. We stayed on the road as full-time RVers for a year and a half.
And there you have it, friends. That’s the story of why I put down my camera to pursue a virtual career as a Private Photo Editor.
What I’m Doing Now
Over the last 4 years, I have learned so much. This Private Photo Editing business has grown in ways that I never could have dreamed of. In addition to editing for wedding photographers, I also create customized Lightroom Mobile Preset Collections for editing your mobile phone photos. Easy, one-click edits right as your fingertips. Mobile presets are made for literally everyone wanting to have a professional look to their mobile photos whether they’re traveling, hiking, blogging, or wanting nicer photos of their kiddos.
Chelsea Mowery Editing has also transitioned into offering Private Photo Editing Mentorships! This is something that has been on my heart for quite some time. I knew that having built a successful editing business on my own didn’t just happen by chance. There was a lot of learning involved. A lot of mistakes were made, and a lot of victories, too.
Therefore, I wanted to be able to help others create a business of their dreams. It is all too common for me to see stay-at-home moms wanting a career that would allow them to stay home with their children. I see corporate America employees wanting a job that doesn’t suck the life out of them.
If that sounds at all like you, perhaps you should ask about our Private Photo Editing Mentorships!
Follow us on Instagram! And if you haven’t yet, make sure to snag our two free guides for starting your own Private Photo Editing business.
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