Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Kamerman.
Hi Stefanie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been a creative soul. My creative career began in high school, where I explored painting in electives. Paint was my first love affair, and from there, I dabbled with every medium. Eventually, I found a love of sewing and started my first boutique business selling indie baby items to modern moms. My items were for sale on Etsy, and shop owners in Europe noticed my modern baby items. Soon, my homemade bibs and burp cloths were for sale in Denmark, Russia, and Australia.
After a cross-country move that forced my shop to permanently close, I revisited photography. After spending a good amount of time assisting other wedding photographers on wedding days, I opened my own wedding photography business. Soon, I was internationally published and booked consistently throughout the year. Then came COVID…I kept my business afloat by partnering with another venue in my area for an all-inclusive wedding package that included my photography services.
More life changes came my way in 2022, which led me to where I am today. As I mentioned, I’ve dabbled with every craft known to mankind, but one I always return to at the end of the day: writing. At this current time, I am taking classes through Harvard for my Master’s in English. With AI now over the threshold, I hope to write to build authentic connections within my community and write novels that soothe the soul. Human connection can never be outsourced, and at least I believe, cannot be replaced by AI.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had many struggles on the way from personal to my health. However, these circumstances made me resilient. When you are a creative, thick skin and resiliency go a long way. We are constantly pivoting as our ideas evolve.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At this time, I freelance and recently started a part-time marketing position where I can use my unique skill set and creative brain. At this time, I am proud of the person I have become during the last several years. She is fiesty, fun, and funny. Because of the challenges I overcame, my creative powers are a constant source from which I pull. My out-of-the-box thinking landed me the job I have now, not to mention the tender soul who can relate to just about anyone.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The biggest risk I took was quitting my teaching job last November with no job lined up. My health, especially my mental health, was not in a good place. My doctor told me that if I continued, my health would further deteriorate. After much prayer and consultation with my doctor, I put in my notice. At the time, I knew this was a huge risk given the competitive job market in the DMV. However, come my last day in the classroom, I was mentally prepared to live off of savings. However, that major risk turned into the reward of the job I have now.
When it comes to risk, one must ask oneself: Do I want to stay where I am for the rest of my life and be on my deathbed wondering “What if I had…”?
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