Stepping into the Unknown with Open Hands

As the sun begins to set on our final season of Cam & Courtney Photography, we’ve been asked this question a lot: “Soooo, what’s next for you two?”

And the truth is… we don’t really know.

After 15 years of pouring our hearts into this business, we’re allowing ourselves time to breathe, to rest, to reflect, to be still, and probably the most difficult practice of all- to wait.

We’ve built something beautiful, something we’re incredibly proud of, but now we’re choosing to pause and pivot. We’re working hard to intentionally not rush into the “next big thing”, but to trust God to lead us forward to whatever is next, in His timing.

But we are intentionally reminding each other that this next season isn’t about hustling and striving. It’s about waiting and listening.

Intentional Family Time

First and foremost, our next chapter begins at home.

For years, we’ve poured ourselves into weekends full of weddings, evenings full of editing or blog writing, and calendars filled with sessions. And while we wouldn’t trade this journey, we’re looking forward to reclaiming time with our kids, allowing ourselves to be fully present, unhurried (as much as possible) and available. Especially this coming year as our oldest is in grade 12 and will be graduating before we know it.

We’re allowing ourselves to dream differently with our family. Dreaming of slow start Saturdays. Spontaneous adventures. Bedtime routines that aren’t interrupted by work. This is the season where we want to say ‘yes’ to being with the people who’ve sacrificed the most to support our dream, making this business possible.

A Few Possibilities

That being said, we haven’t stopped dreaming altogether!

We’re still creatives, storytellers, and servants at heart. And while we don’t know exactly how that will unfold, we’re holding a few things loosely in our hands, waiting to see what God might do with them.

• Writing – As may be evident, even in this blog series as we bid farewell to Cam & Courtney Photography, we love to process through words and emotions. There may be more writing ahead, whether it’s on photography, business, marriage, grief, faith, or family. We don’t have any specific plan in this yet, but we’re paying attention to that nudge.

• Education – Over the years, we have been the recipients of a lot of knowledge through conferences, workshops, tutorials, mentorship, and even just conversations. We have all of this experience and knowledge that is rattling around in our brains that we would hate to go to waste. Our desire to support and serve others hasn’t gone away either. Maybe we can find a way to offer our experience, journey, and expertise to others that are earlier on in their journey – business, shooting, editing, faith connection. Who knows what it could be?

• Ministry – We’ve always seen our work as a quiet, relational and intentional opportunity for ministry. We love people, we love our kids, we love each other, but more than all of that, we love God and desire to serve Him with our whole hearts. As we step into this new season, we’re asking God how He might want to use us next to serve, lead, and love well.

• Schooling – This one is actually already in motion… Cam has returned to school to pursue his master’s degree in counselling. Even when we had announced that we were closing CCP this spring, we didn’t know that this was going to be happening. But this idea has been thrown around for many years, and with the space that was given as we began to let go of photography, it allowed Cam to begin to pursue a passion. And if you know him, you will already know this is an extension of his heart and who he is as a friend. We are both so excited to see where that goes!

As a couple, for the time being we’re not launching into anything. We are not making promises or intent on building something new. But we’re resting, praying and trusting. We’re letting the silence speak before we start creating again.

A Season of Open Hands

This part of our journey feels a lot like standing in the blank space between chapters. There is a large amount of grief, but there is also hope, curiosity, and excitement in the unknown.

We don’t know what comes next, but we know the One who goes before us.

We’re choosing to hold this blank space season with open hands, believing that God has something good ahead. Maybe quiet, maybe bold, maybe surprising, maybe building upon things He has already begun, or maybe something entirely brand new. No matter what, He is always good and faithful.

So, if you’re still here- reading and following along in our journey- thank you. You’ve been part of something that mattered so very deeply to us. And while the business may be closing, our story isn’t finished. We just have the opportunity to write a new chapter of our own.

We’ll be around, likely hanging out with our children. Probably dreaming of what has taken place and what’s to come. But certainly, we will be finding ways to say yes to the beautiful, brave, and unexpected things God puts in front of us.

One of our main requests to God for this next chapter, whatever it is, may we do it together, as husband and wife, hand-in-hand as we have done for so many years now.

With hope, curiosity & open hands,

xoxo

Cam & Courtney