Website... Fo' Real!

When I was young, I don't remember ever really going without much. My dad is a pastor and my mom teaches young children. Not exactly the highest paid jobs around. Yet, they managed to make sure that I had everything I needed, and most of the things I wanted. I am an only child, but I wouldn't say I was SPOILED... just well loved.

I do remember certain things, however, that I did not have. Like Adidas socks. You know the ones... they were white, mid calf length socks, with a little blue Adidas symbol on the top. When I was in middle school, I wanted those socks soooo badly. They were just super cool. But my mom didn't understand why it was so important. The plain white socks were cheaper! We could get them on sale at Fred Myers on the day after Thanksgiving!

I also remember wanting to wear Calvin Klein. It didn't matter what, just SOMETHING made by the fabulous designer. Preferably with his name BLASTED across the front in big enough letters that the kid on the other side of the cafeteria would know that I had arrived. I was wearing Calvin Klein.

But I wasn't allowed to wear Calvin Klein. The ad campaign that Calvin Klein ran when I was in junior high featured young teenagers in provocative (and sometimes only partially dressed) poses. My mom felt that we shouldn't support this, and as a result, I wasn't allowed to wear Calvin Klein. I would love to say that at 11 I completely understood and agreed with my mom's view and I was happy to boycott the scantily clad ad bearing company. But I didn't. And I wasn't. I was just mad that I wasn't going to be cool.

Why do I tell you this random story of my awkward junior high years? Because now that I am an adult, I have realized that company values... and the faces behind the company... make a big difference.

When I got into photography, I was doing everything I could for free. It was a hobby that had kind of turned itself into an every once in a while job, and I knew I wanted to move forward with it, but I didn't want to go into debt, nor did I have a lot of extra money laying around. So I did everything I could for free. Including my website. If you have been following my blog from the beginning, you can see the succession of websites I tried. I have never been 100% happy with any of them. But I have done everything for free. In the mean time, I have looked longingly at Show It and the incredibly amazing sites that normal, everyday people have built with them.

I have been working AGAIN on re-branding and moving forward with my photography, and so I started playing around with Show It's free 5 page site. I quickly discovered that I definitely had to do something bigger than 5 pages. So I took the plunge and I am so proud to say I am now a full fledged Show It user.

I am proud of this for the simple reason that, while the company is amazing, the people behind it are INCREDIBLE! I have had the privilege of sitting and talking with David Jay, who never once pushed his company or business or skill on me. He simply sat and talked life with me. He shared his story, his difficult lessons, and his life with me for that time. He answered my crazy questions and encouraged me to no end.

I have been fortunate to spend time with both JD and Sean who have both offered me their expertise and advice and friendship, without any expectation of a sale. Simply because they care, not just about me as a customer, but as a person and as a friend.

Any company that has a group like that behind it, is well worth doing business with. So without further ado... I present the first website I have every been REALLY proud of and happy with (even though I have a feeling it will be changing every now and then, because with Show It, you can do that!).

www.diandraann.com