Why I finally started an email list...

Does the thought ever cross your mind... what if my instagram just no longer existed.

I've taken enough photography education courses to know that I have needed to build my own subscriber list, to be able to communicate with my audience. I knew it was time. Felt like, I really have established my business. Felt a sense of belonging here. Y'all likely know, I am not short for words or considered a quiet person. There are loads of things I'd love to share with you. But I'm constantly living in that dissonance- that love for online, the IG accounts, Substack subscriptions and Shopmy flooding my safari tabs, and the opposite desire to close off and be completely offline, give my children that "simple" childhood we keep seeing featured on our feeds. I always end up somewhere in between.

I go back and forth about making my Instagram private as the world changes around us with AI. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I am striving to always make working with me feel like a safe place to land.

I've always had so many ideas for a blog, so many things I could share, and yet sometimes, I just dont press post. I dont spend hours logging my photos to post to IG. I don't spend countless moments curating an outfit board. Because ultimately, I want to show up for you and live the life that's right in front of my nose, where my feet are embedded in soft ground. But other days, I realize the importance of reaching out and sharing and connecting in this online way. Some days, I just sit down, feel inspried, and do.

I started this blog and an email list to keep in touch with YOU. I told one of my fellow business owners, y'all really never know how much time I spend with you. I edit, hand-edit, each photo and pour over multiple variations.

I spend so much more time than just during that quick session.

Every photo, pouring over the slight changes in posture or facial expression, and want to give them all to you.

I spend so much time in my editing software with you, that by the time I return the images, I feel bonded to you. To your joyful grins, the tender touches, the sweetness in the tiny moments I captured. I feel like I've spent time really getting to know you and feel more grateful and like your friend. So I guess this is all to say, I just want to make sure I'm authentically connecting with you in a way that ensures I can keep showing up with you and keep serving you. That's why I started this rambling blog. That way, even if the algorithm changes, I'll still be here.

Thank you for reading these thoughts and thank you for being here. Your support means more than you'll ever know!

-Madeline

P.S. Though I feel like this should go without saying, you're getting the authentic me in the creation of this post. With the grammar mistakes, the way I speak, and no claude or gemini :)