Here's a shoutout to everyone in my life who thinks that a photographer's life revolves around them and their session.

While you're messaging me asking for those photos I took of you however long ago, I'm in the middle of trying to edit photos for the person ahead of you before I have to work at the job I just got unexpectedly called in to. My laundry is upstairs sopping wet because I didn't have enough quarters to dry it at the laundromat so I'm using my in-laws' dryer, praying that I'll have dry clothes to wear to work tonight. I haven't showered in a couple of days because who's got time to do that when you've got five different photo sessions to edit and send out, work every day of the week and sometimes even on the weekends, various family events that you're expected to attend, and let's not forget that I have to take time to get somewhat adequate sleep and put food in my body to keep me going.

Should I be apologizing for taking time for myself? Should I tell you I'm sorry that I did something fun with my weekend instead of staying home slaving over my laptop until my fingers are about to fall off to edit those photos that I did for you for free? Should I drop everything I'm doing to take more photos, for free, at an event that I don't even have time to attend, let alone take photos for? Am I stressing you out by not giving you that "family discount" you assumed you'd get? Is it upsetting that I'm not making my world revolve around you and your photos?

I know I post a lot on social media about all of the fun I'm having on the weekends and on my down time so it probably doesn't look like I'm putting much effort into getting things done for you, does it? "Why are they out having fun instead of working on my photos," you might think to yourself, but I promise you I'm working my tail off, you just don't see it. You don't see the process I took to edit that one photo of you. You don't see me sitting in front of my computer for hours at a time just working on making that one photo of you look the best it can look. You don't see me multitasking in an attempt to get more things done at once, or that I have to stop what I'm doing sometimes to answer the ever dreaded messages "Where are my photos?" and "What's taking so long?" There is a lot of work done behind the scenes that you don't even know about and pestering me with questions isn't going to get your session finished any quicker.

Believe me, I would love for photography to be a full time gig for me but right now that isn't the case, so please understand that I have a job outside of this and I do your photos in my spare time — most of the time in place of going to family events, spending time with my friends, or even taking much needed time for myself. There is a lot more to it than just pushing a button; I spend hours outside of that initial session just editing your photos for you and I can't always get them to you within the week, or sometimes even the month. So before you pick up your phone and interrupt my day with your questions, remember that photographers are people too and although we choose this lifestyle it does not mean we will be pushed around by needy clients who don't understand just how much effort it takes to create beautiful images for them to cherish.