We had the good fortune of connecting with Cayleigh Ely and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cayleigh, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I definitely worked wayyyy too much in the beginning, which I honestly don’t regret. It taught me a lot about hard work and the lengths I was willing to go to in order make my dream a reality. I learned my limits, and my strengths and weaknesses during this time and that has helped me when setting my boundaries now. Everytime I think about adding another session to an already full calendar, I put myself back in the shoes when I was over worked and exhausted, and I remember that I never wanted to be there again. So even though it’s tough to stand by the rules you set for yourself to maintain balance, it’s so worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love being a creative. I’ve always dreamed of doing big things with my life. Not famous everyone-knows-my-name kind of big, but big for me! I’ve faced challenges to get where I am, as most of us do, but knowing that I just had to put one foot in front of the other was what helped me keep going. Slow progress is better than no progress! I’ve learned that having a community around you is more important than you thought, and asking for help is a must! I’d love for my business to continue to grow, especially in the education industry, as I have big plans for projects in 2024!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Gosh, this is tough! I’m not really a tourist in my city very often. Right now there is a pop-up Harry Potter bar at the Union Station Hotel (which is beautiful!) and I’m a huge book nerd so I’d definitely take them there! Maybe grab dinner at 5th and Broadway for some local Nashville food. I love Predators games so I’d probably take them there. If it’s summertime I’m definitely taking them to Blue Moon Grill which is this hidden gem in West Nashville. And kayaking down the Cumberland River!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family deserves alllll the praise. They cheered me on, let me cull or edit while hanging out with them, understand when I’m mentally exhausted and can step in and pick me up when I’m struggling or stressed out.

Website: cayleighely.com

Instagram: instagram.com/cayleighelyphotography

Facebook: facebook.com/cayleighelyphotography

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cayleighelyphotography

Image Credits
Cayleigh Ely Photography

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