The Truth Behind Why I’ve Been So Quiet and What’s Next

My social media accounts have been silent for the past few months. I want to take a moment to be transparent and give voice to some changes in my life and business. Thank you for taking the time to hear my heart.

You know how when you miss a turn your navigator says, “Recalculating, recalculating…” and you feel like screaming, “Hurry the hell up because I don’t know where I’m going!” Well, that’s been the voice between my ears since October. It took me a few months, but I’ve finally recalculated and I’m ready to announce some changes. Buckle up because it’s about to get real.

 

I’m a proud educator.

I’ll have the blood of a teacher until the day I die. Teaching isn’t something I do, it’s something I am. When I’m having coffee with a friend, I ask questions to uncover their feelings and understandings, like a teacher. When I’m photographing a wedding, I juggle the schedule, calm the mommas, and allow the bride and groom to see themselves with the beauty that I see in them, like a teacher. Everything I do, I do with the heart of a teacher.

In October I took a new job to develop a new teacher credentialing program for Lake and Mendocino Counties. The entire state of California, especially rural communities like ours, is experiencing a teacher shortage. My new charge is to build a program that will develop new teachers from within our community to serve the diverse needs of our students. I’m proud to be playing my part to ensure every child in our community is lead by an excellent educator.

I now teach or supervise night classes for these driven adults that are working to become new educators. Three nights a week I don’t get home until after 9 pm. After attempting to work this schedule and do weeknight photo shoots, I turned into a puddle of exhaustion and a real beast to my sweet husband who just wanted to make eye contact more than once a week. Since being a beast isn’t a cute look on me, I’ve made some schedule changes. Keep reading.

 

I’m Team Jake. For life.

Also in October, Jake took a new job as a Director of Bed & Barrel at Stonehouse Cellars, a new winery in Clearlake Oaks. He turned down a job offer in law enforcement to manage a new winery and go to winemaker’s school. #plottwist

You’re thinking…..wait…..you both made career changes in the same month? Yep. The same week actually. We have a long history of making ballsy moves, followed by praying really hard and this season was no different.

After a long career in counterintelligence and many years fighting bad guys in camo, Jake’s dream was a quieter life. Click here if you want to read a whole blog post about it.

I’m Team Jake, for life. I want this new venture to work so badly for him, I will jump at the chance to help in any way I can. My undergraduate degree is in public relations and marketing and now I manage all their social media accounts, write for their blog, and support Jake with winery events on the weekends. When I decided to become a teacher, I thought my marketing education had been a waste. Turns out, God knows what He’s doing.

Our marriage and Jake’s happiness and fulfillment is my top priority. However, the extra time I’m giving to Bed & Barrel does complicate the equation a little bit. I have found a solution though, keep reading.  

I can’t do all the things I love at the same time.

It also happens that October is to photographers what April is to accountants: fall weddings, senior portraits, and family holiday sessions all peak around the same time.

I really struggle saying “no” to things that are fun and meaningful…

Build a new program to solve education issues in my community? Yes!

Support my husband in a new career full of blind turns? Yes!

Capture every precious moment of the day two souls join in matrimony? Yes!

Memorialize the beauty and confidence of a high school senior? Yes!

Give families precious memories and the best Christmas card photo they’ve ever had? Yes!

You get the picture. I like all the things so I think I can do all the things until I wake up and resemble freezer-burnt Cool Whip that sat out on the counter all night. The tricky part is, I sincerely love my work. I would joyfully work myself into a breakdown that would surprise no one except yours truly.

Cue recalculating.

So, what’s next?

After some deep reflection and a few months of quiet, I’ve decided how I’m going to serve my priorities in this season of life….

1. My photography business is now wedding-focused. This will allow me to continue to serve couples and families and also support my community by showing the beauty of Lake County as a wedding venue. I can give my full energy and focus to my wedding clients on the weekends instead of stretching myself too thin with weeknight portrait sessions.
2. Coffee dates with clients can now very easily become wine dates with clients. If you would like to do a wedding consult at the beautiful Bed & Barrel at Stonehouse Cellars, I will treat you to some delicious wine, crafted by a very handsome friend of mine.
3. Portrait bookings will be very limited. If you are interested in a maternity, high school senior, or family session, please reach out asap because I will have very limited portrait openings moving forward.
4. All my social media accounts are merging to @jamiebucknerbridges instead of separate professional and personal accounts. I am my business and my business is me. Managing so many accounts wasn’t working.

 

Thank you for your grace as we navigate this new chapter. I’m so thankful for all of you and the trust you place in me to capture your memories. I am excited to implement these changes and celebrate this new season of business and life with you.

Love, 

Here’s a little sneak peek at the wedding work that’s been happening behind the scenes: