I was FIRED from my job that I thought was going to be my forever career almost exactly three years ago. FIRED, I didn’t quit, I was FIRED. So why am I telling y’all about it? I have just been reflecting on the past three years and how faithful God has been and I want to share my story of how I started Katie Norrid Photography in hopes to inspire someone else and show how GOD really knows what he is doing.

I had worked at this place for almost eight years. I had worked there in college and worked my way up to the store manager. I LOVED my job. I LOVED the people I worked for and the people I worked with. I even got to work with my sister which was awesome. I was treated well and honestly loved my bosses. It was like a big family. When I had my first daughter I was treated well and my “job” family visited me and my baby in my home, brought food and gifts. It was a family.

For some moms it is easy to go back to work, or it got easier for them to go back to work but that wasn’t the case for me. Of course when I was there I loved it and knew my little love was being cared for by the best but I prayed that someday I would get to raise my babies from home. I even talked often with my boss about this as she was a mother too. I had continued to do photography on the side for all those years as well and LOVED it so much. I dreamed of the day that maybe I could possibly do photography as my full time gig but honestly NEVER thought it was a REAL possibility. I had a great job and a pretty good system in place so why go for my DREAM?

I was a big scared little girl when it came to believing in myself and my abilities. I also just didn’t trust God enough to take the plunge myself so you know what He did… HE SHOVED ME OUT THE DOOR! He gave me no other choice but to trust him and dive head first into this dream that I prayed would someday come true.

I got a phone call one morning letting me know that my position was being terminated. I was in TOTAL SHOCK! What in the world? Why? What are you even talking about? I sat in the recliner holding my sick baby and just sat in silence as they said a bunch of other stuff I don’t even remember. Then I finally asked… WHY? The reason was that I took a vacation day that wasn’t approved. WHAT? Is that even a thing? TOTAL SHOCK. I am telling you all this because I want you to really see that God was all over this. None of it made sense to me or anyone really, but it made total sense to him. I HAD PRAYED FOR THIS Y’ALL! I had actually asked God to do just this. Was it in the way that I had planned? NOPE, not at all but that is what is so amazing about our GOD.

Now I didn’t really see this until about 3 months after it happened. I was hurt, embarrassed, scared, worried, all the not good things. I was also mad! Y’all it was a crazy time, but looking back I am so very thankful.

My husband is the most calm and collected guy ever and he was so great about everything and reminding me that this is a good thing, that I AM talented, that people WILL book and that I COULD really do this. The next day I set up an LLC, a website, everything I could think of and just kept trucking along. Three months in I was just amazed at the support and that people did want to hire me.

I use to wish I had that story that was “I walked into my job I hated, told them I quit and the rest is history.” I didn’t hate my job, I actually enjoyed it very much, but was always having an itch to do photography full time, be my own boss and raise my babies while being at home with them. That was one of the best phone calls of my life! Y’all I would have NEVER quit, I was just too scared.

I am no longer scared! I have BIG BIG dreams for my business and I am asking God daily to lead my business in the way that he sees best. I love sharing my story with others as well, because it isn’t a super happy fun way I got my business up and running and that is OKAY! It is ok to be scared, it taught me so much. I would have NEVER imagined that heading into year FOUR of being a FULL TIME MOM, BUSINESS OWNER, and PHOTOGRAPHER that I would have to turn away clients, be able to run workshops teaching what I LOVE and have a new studio space with other super talented brave women! If you had told me these things three years ago I would have laughed in your face.

I am so so grateful for that horrible day 3 years ago.  I know in the scheme of things being fired from a job isn’t that horrible, but it was a very sad and tear-filled day for myself and my family. Not just my husband and daughter, but like my whole family.

I want to share one iPhone picture with you that I took the day I was fired. It was like a little message that I needed more than ever! I had the Today Show on and look what the segment was about?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? To me it was God telling me that he was all over this!

Has every minute been easy and amazing? NO! NOPE! NOPE! Y’all it is HARD, everyday is HARD! I work with 2 tiny people in my lap often, work really late hours to be able to actually get work done and then wake up early. One day can be a total high and the next I feel like I just plain suck at life. That is the life of a small business owner and a creative, but trusting in God’s plan for myself, my family and my business makes those hard days ok.

I am so humbled by all the love and support that has been shown to me over my career. I am only able to live this dream because of my clients. This is why I get mushy-gushy all the time. I often tell my husband, ” I can’t believe this is what I get to do everyday!” It is still such a fresh blessing in my life everyday. So all you AMAZING clients and supporters and cheerleaders and HATERS (yes, even the haters that told people to book someone else) THANK YOU! You pushed me to be better, to never stop.

I hope this helps someone else, I hope this helps explain all my mushy posts and I hope you all have a blessed day!

-Katie