Gene: My excitement spiked as I looked at the details, almost giddy I shared it with her. 

Jen: "OKKKKK... Soooo why so excited? It looks pretty small. Why are you going nuts?" 

Gene: "This is a game changer in photography. You cannot make great pictures without great light. It is the singular greatest factor in the capture of great portraits. And yet only incremental changes have occurred in lighting for a very long time. But there it is...  A continuous LED light that is also a flash." The possibilities began to daisy chain in my mind and elation exploded in me. 

Jen: As I learned more of what this little light could do my questions change to amazement and wonder. How can something so small, do so much? And then I caught the fire and couldn't quit looking at it and the videos of what it could do for our business. I simply HAD to have it! 

Gene: Uhhhh Ohhh, I may have created a monster here. She is even more excited than I am. 

Jen: Business took off and I became exhausted with the overflow of work so set my desires for a new light on the back burner. Then the unthinkable happened. One evening in the middle of a shoot our Mr. Dependable lighting system began, shooting sparks, and smoking. My horror was indescribable as struggled to keep my composure and finish the shoot with smiles and professionality. 

My horror became almost outright panic at the next shoot. When despite careful troubleshooting my second light and my only back up, burnt up before my eyes. 

Gene: When I found out about the lighting system burn up my stress spiked to stroke levels and a sense of helpless frustration engulfed me. I scrambled to figure out a solution. I was elated to learn the lights could be repaired and if we did it ourselves the cost would be cut in half. 

Jen: The panic and shaking in my hands as I reached to take the first screws out was horrible. I was literally sweating and breathing like I was going into labor. Handling it so carefully. "Sssshhhhing" the kids and acting like I was about to perform surgery. Then I did it! I fixed the light and suddenly I went from panicked breathing, to dancing around the kitchen shouting "Who da boss, oh yeah, girl power!!" Knowing that I saved us a pile of money in fixing them myself was a HUGE proud moment for me.  

BUT the best part was realizing I had enough money now to buy the new light myself. I had worked so hard doing my job at the care home and then heading straight to photoshoots to be able to save money to get these lights. It felt like everything was coming at me when my older light system "went up in smoke". In a panic, I had to learn to shoot using natural light again. I kept pushing and finally had enough saved up to get this new light system.

As I was hovering over the "checkout" button, I was seriously so excited I thought I was going to be sick. My tummy was doing flip flops and I turned into this giggly, big sparkly eyed child who was let loose in a candy store. I literally closed my eyes and squealed "I'm doing it, I'm doing it" and "Click" that little sound echoed through me as I stepped into a new place for me. I had earned the money to make my first big photography purchase and the rush that surged through me was the best feeling in the world. 

Gene: What the new light gives us for capabilities is secondary to seeing the accomplishment glittering in her eyes. The swell of triumph tightened my chest. I can't wait for her to show off what her new toy can do in moving us forward in our pursuit to be the best people photographers.