As a businesswoman and entrepreneur, your support has meant the world to me. Gems, I can’t thank you enough for everything you are! So today, I want to share a personal journey that led me to make a huge decision. I’m officially retiring from photographing weddings.

As a passionate photographer, I’ve captured countless beautiful love stories through my lens. However, lately, I’ve been contemplating the idea of retiring from photographing weddings, especially after missing my son’s chess tournament.

Right then and there, I was one click away from announcing my decision to retire from weddings, but then I received an inquiry to photograph a bucket-list wedding. I was so torn between my love for wedding photography and the guilt of missing important moments with my family. So while I have felt pulled in both directions, I know in my heart that it’s the right thing to do.

The final nail in the coffin started during an unexpected moment. My husband and I were attending a funeral in Mexico when his cardiologist called with alarming news. His CT scan results were not normal, and we were urged to contact his primary care physician immediately. My heart sank. You see, my husband is a cancer survivor. Hearing such news instantly brought back all the traumatic memories of his past struggles.

As we waited anxiously to see his PCP, we couldn’t help but turn to the ever-available but dangerous source of information: Google. We found ourselves diving into a sea of medical jargon, self-diagnosing, and imagining the worst-case scenarios. This was probably one of the most emotionally draining times we’ve faced together. To make things worse, it seemed impossible to get a timely appointment with the right specialists.

After four anxiety-filled days, we finally got the news we desperately needed. My husband’s condition wasn’t cancer-related at all! A huge wave of relief washed over us.

In that moment of clarity, it hit me like a ton of bricks. While I absolutely love photographing weddings and the joy it brings to couples, my family is my priority. I don’t want to miss any more milestones or significant events because of work. I want to be there for my husband and my kids, no matter what.

It’s not an easy decision. I will miss being a part of those magical wedding moments and being your unofficial maid of honor, but I know in my heart that this is the right decision for us as a family.

To all of you out there facing tough decisions, remember to listen to your heart and follow your intuition. Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, and it’s okay to adapt and evolve along the way. Embrace the unexpected, cherish your loved ones, and always choose what brings you the most joy and fulfillment.

Special thanks to every Gem out there! I hope my story inspires you to cherish the ones you hold dear and make decisions that lead to a fulfilling life.