New Beginnings, Part II

“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”

~Joseph Campbell

As I sit down to write this I realize that I’ve been editing this post in my mind for a few years now. Before there was a photography business, before there was a blog, before I had any idea exactly how life would unfold, I knew that the day would come that I’d be sharing this news…

Early in 2008, thanks to some transition with my employer, we had the opportunity to move to the east coast from California. It was something we had always wanted to try since most of my family still lived there. A couple of jobs, states, and one major life-quaking breakdown later and we found ourselves in Western New York, the place where I had grown up. Unsure of everything except that I was NOT going to return to the corporate machine that was slowly crushing my soul and breaking my back, we started to build a life here. And it has been a good life. I rediscovered my love for photography, took a huge risk, and am now living my dream and pursuing my passion. I know that I am finally doing what I am meant to do. I have found my calling and everything feels possible! Here in Buffalo my children have gotten to know my family and their best friends are the children of my college best friend. I am beyond grateful for the connections we have made, the business I have been able to build, and the miracles that have happened as a result of our time here. Yes, miracles. I have no doubt in my mind that in the past year and a half this is absolutely where we were meant to be. And though it is very difficult to say, it is with that same certainty that I know it is time for us to start a new adventure. And this adventure is taking us back to the state where it all began, back to California…

When we left California I always knew in my heart that we would return some day. I believed that we would go back to the Bay Area, but as it turns out this crew is headed south. In November of 2011, after wedding season is complete and I have fulfilled all my obligations here in WNY, The Brant Family and Erin Oveis Brant Photography will be setting up shop in San Diego, CA. I can hardly explain how bittersweet this move will be (I may try to put a couple of people in my suitcase…I’m warning you now), but even if I fail at everything else I want my kids to know that this life is for living and we do have a choice in how we live it. And that the people we love will always be our people, even if they are a little farther away than we are used to.

There is so much more to tell, and I promise to keep sharing along the way, but for now that is the big announcement. I want to thank all of my clients and supporters here in WNY. Thank you for helping me make my big wild & crazy dreams come true!!!

And because they give me so much joy, I want to share with you some photos from the first time we lived out west…

I hope you stick around, this is going to be quite a ride! XO, erin