Wednesday, June 2, 2010

What’s in a Name: Pink Daffodil Photography – How it all began

So I have a lot of people ask me how I came up with the name Pink Daffodil Photography for my photography business.  While I usually keep my personal life separate from business, but I feel like I need to share the background of this business.

It all started back in 2002, when at the age of 26, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Talk about the worst news EVER!  I remember feeling so overwhelmed with fear, sorrow, and sadness, being faced with my own mortality.

I decided to fight cancer with everything that modern medicine had to offer.  That meant surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  I would do anything it took to see my little kids someday have their first day of Kindergarten!  Heck!  I just wanted to see what age 30 would be like!

Chemo wasn’t my favorite thing.  Feeling painful, achy, flu-like symptoms for 6 months, plus losing all my hair, wasn’t exactly my kind of fun!

scan0001

But with a lot of prayers and patience, I made it!  I did it!

One of the biggest lessons I learned during my cancer journey, was that life is short.  We never know when our last day will be; we need to live life to it’s fullest!  Document everything!  And one of the best ways to remember life is through pictures of course!

DSC_6378-3

In the winter of 2008, I stepped out on a limb and decided to start my own photography business.  I knew I wanted to capture life’s most precious moments for others and help them have a memory and keepsake. 

DSC_6559-52

DSC_6528-45

But what would I name my business?

My great friend Stacey, helped me come up with a name.  She reminded me that my cancer journey has shaped so much of my life and helped me realize it would be important to include my experience somehow in my new business.  (Thanks Stacey!)

So, PINK is for breast cancer and DAFFODIL is the cancer flower. 

So then it began… Pink Daffodil Photography.

Pink Daff 300x300 LOGO! copy

If you feel like today isn’t the day for pictures because you’re overweight, not looking your best, bald, or just don’t have time; I’m speaking from personal experience…

MAKE TIME! 

MAKE NO EXCUSES!

GET YOUR PICTURES TAKEN TODAY!

I’m truly grateful to have so many amazing clients who have supported me since the beginning.  And I feel so blessed to continue to have new clients I can serve. 

THANK YOU ALL!

I commit to continue capturing the most important moments in life through a camera lens and look forward to meeting YOU!

SIDENOTE:

If you know a young woman battling breast cancer, who could benefit from a support group, refer them to Young Survivor Sisters . Another survivor and I formed the group to provide support to young woman battling breast cancer.  And if you’d like to help another survivor help other cancer patients, please visit HappyChemo

 DSC_6738-105DSC_6598-65  DSC_6685-88DSC_6678-84

5 comments:

andreaKphotography said...

That is an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing something so personal. I am so happy for you :)

Denise said...

Erin you are such a Strong and Beautiful Person!!! Love your post and that you shared it with everyone and I could not be Happier to have you as a friend.

Dan and Jen said...

Erin-I have actually wondered why you chose the name Pink Daffodil. I had no idea that the cancer flower was the daffodil. Very clever and very cool. Thank you for sharing. By the way, we are still in love with the pictures you took for us last fall. And I love that you are teaming up with our "Ellie G." for the giveaway! So exciting!

Suzanne Plant said...

I had no idea you had been through this. I myself had cervical cancer but getting rid of it was much easier than what you had to go through. I love that you shared this and I have wondered how you came up with your name :) I love and admire you even more now, thank you for sharing a bit of you.

Heather said...

Erin, I had no idea you went through all that. You are one strong woman! So fun to see you the other night. :) Love your work!