I’ve been sitting with these thoughts for a long time — way longer than I probably needed to. But it’s time to say them out loud.
I’m a photographer.
I’m also a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur.
And I’m so much more than either of those labels alone.
You probably are too.
For years, I felt pressure to keep my online presence neatly contained: only post photography, only talk about sessions and images. Stay “clear” so the algorithm doesn’t get confused. I even asked a peer photographer once, who said she wouldn’t want to see my other content on my photography page. While I understand where that comes from, it never sat right with me. That conversation had me in a chokehold for over a year — making me pause, wrestle with myself, and try to contain my energy.
And it killed me. My soul has been screaming at me to just become. Instead, I started to shrink back.
A few years ago, I started a second page, thinking I should separate my life from my business. I was humbled quickly when my Instagram community didn’t follow me there. It felt like rejection — a wound so woven into my psyche from childhood that it made me question everything: my worth, my talent, my instincts, and the connections I thought were real.
I hate it.
And honestly? I’m tired.
Tired of performing — or more accurately, tired of thinking about performing — for an app that rewards sameness and punishes nuance.
The Quiet Exhaustion of Staying in One Box
I love photography. Deeply. It’s the foundation of my business, my creativity, and the way I connect with people.
But I’m also a whole, layered, imperfect person.
A creative.
A business owner.
A woman in my 40s with life experience and decades of professional experience. I have ADHD, which means my brain doesn’t move in straight lines.
I care about wellness, movement, mental health, hormones, food, creativity, networking, motherhood, and building a business that supports a life — not just a brand. And yes, I also love movies, TV, books, hair, skincare, massages, and clothes. The little joys that make life feel indulgent and real.
Trying to pretend those parts of me don’t exist made showing up online feel unbearably heavy. And when something feels heavy, I go quiet and turn inward.
That’s not because I have nothing to say. It’s because I have too much I’m not allowing myself to say.
Here’s what I’ve been dancing around for years: I love creating social content — for myself, for you, for small businesses. Making videos, designing carousels, writing, showing up in stories — it all lights me up. Because it’s not about posting something pretty. It’s about helping people connect, feel seen, and tell their story.
Multi-Passionate Isn’t a Problem — It’s the Point
As a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur, I don’t see myself as unfocused. My interests overlap, inform each other, and shape how I see people, photograph them, and run my business. Photography doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s influenced by how we feel in our bodies, how safe we feel being seen, and how we move through the world. Those things matter — and I’m done pretending they don’t.
The Cost of Anticipating
There’s a real cost to constantly anticipating what will land, what will be rewarded, and what might disappoint people.
Anticipating the algorithm.
Whether or not there will be comments and shares. Expectations.
Or if I’m being too much or not enough.
Over time, that anticipation chipped away at my joy. It pulled me out of presence and into performance, out of connection and into calculation. That’s not the kind of space I want to create — for myself or for anyone who finds their way here.
This evolution is about letting go of anticipation and choosing something steadier instead: honesty, curiosity, and trust. Take what resonates. Leave what doesn’t. This space is meant to feel supportive, not demanding.
If you’re here for the photos, they’re not going anywhere. If you’re here for the conversation, the connection, or a reminder that you don’t have to fit neatly into one box — there’s room for you too.
Calling Bullshit on the Algorithm
I want to call bullshit on the idea that we’re only allowed to be one thing online.
Calling bullshit on the idea that branching out means confusing people.
And bullshit on the fear that showing more of ourselves means losing credibility.
Social media no longer prioritizes photos the way it once did — at least that’s been my experience. And that’s part of why this space is evolving: to reflect connection, conversation, and humanity over perfectly curated feeds.
I don’t want this space to be just about me, or just about what I offer. I want to create a place where the the businesses and families I collaborate with feel seen, celebrated, and understood.
This Is an Evolution — Expanding the Frame
I am NOT stepping away from photography — I am evolving the way I show up.
I want this space to feel like a conversation, not a catalog. A community, not just images. A place where humans can connect — even in a world that feels more connected than ever but somehow less connected than we’ve ever been. A place where you can learn something, discover something, or feel something.
You’ll still see my photography. But over time you’ll also seestories, ideas, projects, and local collaborations that challenge me, shape me, and light me up. Running a small business has shown me how powerful our local community is — and I want to celebrate that energy here, because it’s as much a part of my story as the work I do behind the camera.
If You’re Feeling This Too
If you’re a creative founder who feels boxed in by what you’re “supposed” to post…
If you’re multi-passionate and tired of shrinking yourself…
If you’re craving more honesty and less performance…
You’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong.
Maybe we’re just done pretending we’re one-dimensional.
This is my current hot take — and if that resonates with you, I’m really glad you’re here.
xoxo,
Meredith
family photo by Elise Meader
