Have you ever met someone and felt like God put them in your path at just the moment you needed to meet them? That’s exactly how I feel about my new friend Katera, and I’m thrilled to introduce her to my AWP tribe today!

Isn’t she the cutest?!

Katera contacted me through my website a few weeks ago, introducing herself and inquiring as to whether I needed any assistance. I won’t lie, my first reaction was to feel flattered (who am *I* to be worthy of assistance?) and then to chuckle (I’m a hot mess. I need so much assistance.).

But then I thought a little more – I was in the throes of a significant career change, serving clients, had a young family to take care of and a household to run, and I was preparing for the Leprechaun Lilly event just around the corner. I was drowning. And you know what? It takes guts to email someone out of the blue and put yourself out there, and I like guts.

Within moments of meeting Katera, I could feel my entire body exhaling in relief. It’s almost scary how much we have in common, and her experience as a childcare provider makes her a perfect fit in my family portrait studio. She contacted me at exactly the moment that I needed a second set of hands and a sympathetic ear. The photography industry can be terribly isolating, and everyone benefits when we work together.

I’m so excited and humbled to mentor this sweet girl and to work together to better serve the families of southern Maryland. We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure!