SilverBox Photographers : Annika Miller

https://silverboxphotographers.com//12/23/the-schieber-fam

T E N My husband celebrated 5 years with his company last month and they made a big to-do. He was recognized on the company’s Facebook page, his boss wrote a gl...owing review of his work, and he got a gift card in the mail. The moment I proudly clicked ‘share’ on the Facebook post is the moment it hit me. When you are self-employed milestones don’t come with confetti and bows, but they are WORTHY of celebration - even if you are the one throwing the party - for yourself. So, here’s my party. [Update: It’s long-winded. Oops.] In May of 2010, I graduated from college, purchased my first home, and blindly leapt into small business ownership. If I’d come out of the gate with more information or had started working for someone else and then attempted to transition to self-employment, there would be no need for this post. I don’t know that I would’ve had the courage without that terrifying sink or swim feeling that comes with just going. for. it. While I joined two other fabulous women (shoutout to the OGs Kim & Amy) in an established business called SilverBox Photographers, SilverBox is simply the umbrella that houses our individual businesses. At 21 I registered my LLC, traded textbooks for Quickbooks, and started learning how to wear all of the entrepreneurial hats. I’m sure there’s been confusion over the years regarding our business model, and rightly so. I don’t know that we’ve ever done a great job explaining it, let alone other changes and transitions along the way. I am the owner of Annika Miller Photography, LLC DBA (doing business as) SilverBox Photographers. My current business partner, Kim, and I keep our finances, clients, and processes separate, but we collaborate where it matters. [Sidenote: For anyone considering a business partnership, this is the most ideal solution.] I am thankful for Kim every single day and I can’t believe that I am lucky enough to work alongside her. Our relationship has ebbed and flowed in the most wonderful way over the last decade. There are times that one of us has picked up the slack when the other couldn’t. In the early years, Kim funded the opening of our studio and I worked to repay her. When one of us has too much on our plate, the other steps up to help. We joke that we are work wives. It’s a beautiful marriage. Maybe, in part, our partnership is what allowed my work-a-versary to slip past me. Maybe, it was the utter chaos of 2020. This summer I should have been shouting from the rooftops about my TEN YEARS OF FULL-TIME SELF-EMPLOYMENT. Instead, I was channeling my inner duck: glide gracefully across the surface and paddle like heck underneath. What’s more, SilverBox was established in 2005 so she’s now sitting pretty at 15 years. Hey, Kim- It’s your 15th work anniversary! Should I get YOU confetti? Perhaps a cupcake? While no one is going to decorate my desk with streamers, I decided that I don’t want to shy away from publicly celebrating this achievement in a year that’s been so challenging, especially for small businesses, even if it feels uncomfortable. I am incredibly grateful to the clients that have kept my lights on. Many of those clients have recently stated, This is like the one normal thing we get to do this year. So, week after week, I’ve pulled out my camera to photograph high school seniors, headshots, small gatherings, weddings, other business owners, family photos, and more. I’ve built a six-figure business for myself and typing that makes me both incredibly sweaty and proud. Frankly, I don’t know what the future holds for SilverBox, for Kim, for me. Constant changes are coming around the bend in our personal lives and our studio. One thing I know for sure is that I’ve made a career out of a passion. I’ve worked REALLY hard but, at the end of the day, it is rewarding work that leaves me with a smile. This business has given me a front-row seat to some of the happiest days of peoples’ lives. There have been times that I’ve found myself sitting at my desk cranking to meet a deadline at 11 pm. Yet, you should see my face light up when I wake up and decide I’m taking a random Thursday off to treat myself after working several weekends in a row. Sometimes doubt creeps in. I tell myself I should hang up my hat because I’m not as creative as someone I follow on Instagram or because a friend hired another photographer instead of me. On occasion, the autonomy that comes with self-employment is synonymous with loneliness. And there have been far too many times that I’ve felt like I was winging something I most certainly should not be winging. But it turns out I love running a business. I love creating, serving, and dishing out doses of ‘feel good’ to my clients. And Daniel often reminds me that I make a better General than a soldier. I know what you’re thinking: Rollercoaster of emotions, single rider! A few minutes ago, I checked my email and was alerted that a recent headshot client left a 5 star Google review. She said, Annika was amazing! I showed up thinking we were going to take a few headshots for my sorority president portrait and go on our way. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by Annika’s attention to detail. Everything from a stray hair to the position of clothing was taken into account; because of this, the pictures looked great every time and the atmosphere was comfortable and professional! Annika really made sure that she was giving you the vision in your head and taking quality pictures in a short, 30-minute appointment. I felt COVID safe the whole time and happy that I got to support a local business while home for winter break. Completely worth every penny! (Thanks Elle) Dang. Maybe I am good at this job, after all. Here’s to 10 years! Heck, let’s call it 10.5! SilverBox Photographers : Annika Miller @stephphoto.co

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https://silverboxphotographers.com//12/14/the-stober-family