Friday, May 27th, 2022 .posted by Vickie Llorente

After spending the last several years immersed in the wine industry I cannot help but use a wine analogy when talking about roots so please bear with me. 

One thing I've been asked a lot by visitors to the Woodinville, WA area is "Where are the grapes?". Over 140 tasting rooms in the city and dozens more sprawling out through the neighboring cities and there are no vines in site! The simple answer is that the soil and the environment here are not the best for most classic varietals. You can get the best Cabernet Sauvignon root stock money can buy, but unless you plant it where it's roots have to struggle just the right amount and the sun is just hot enough, among many other conditions, your fruit will be bad and your wine will taste like shit. 

It's not the varietal. It's the environment.

I have found myself in a place in life where I am not bearing the best fruit I know that I am capable of. Change is in order. I need to be in a place where the sky is the limit, my creativity can flow, my ideas can all be thrown at the wall, and taking time to learn and grow is part of the job. Not to mention a place where all the aspects of a healthy work/life balance can be harmonized by my own values. It is time for me to return to entrepreneurship. 

I have chosen to come full circle back to my photography business that I started in 2007. It is here that I believe I can re-ground myself, soak in all the lessons I have learned along the way, and see where the vine leads me. 

As fanciful as this all sounds believe me I AM SCARED. A steady paycheck had its advantages. I am a single mother of 3, own my home, and have a multitude of other financial responsibilities aka bills that are not going to care that I am following my dreams blah blah... 

But I've been through worse. 

"You don't reach the mountaintop from the mountaintop. We start at the bottom and climb up. Blood is involved." - Cheryl Strayed

Yes, I quote a lot from Cheryl. She is one of my leading ladies for inspiration and courage. If you have any favorite quotes or your own words of wisdom for times such as these please share in the comments. Also, please hire me! Or at least pass the word around. I am currently specializing in commercial photography and would love to stay connected to my wine community especially. 

My gratitude goes out to everyone who took the time to read this. Nothing matters without the connections we all make. 

Sincerely,

Vickie