We all want to be our own bosses.

Honestly, who actually enjoys taking orders from somebody else? Don't we all spend most of our days dreaming and scheming about all the better ways we could spend our time, if only we could work up the courage to take the leap?

Today's guest, Andrea Schwanbeck, is all too familiar with that inner dialogue. She engaged with it for years, waiting and waiting for the right time to dive into the unknown.

But when a COVID layoff blindsided her, Andrea was left with no choice but to finally go all in on herself, even if it meant she had to pay a premium for health insurance as a Type 1 diabetic.

In this week's conversation from Brass Tacks Photography in Portsmouth, and in celebration of Diabetes Awareness Month, my friend Andrea joins me to discuss:

• Andrea's start in photography (00:00)
• Diabetes diagnosis (06:36)
• Andrea's career prior to Brass Tacks (15:32)
• Wedding photography (23:15)
• A fun show announcement! (26:14)
• An unforgettable story (27:32)
• Our relationships with T1 Diabetes (31:19)
• Opening the Brass Tacks Studio in Portsmouth (46:50)
• Building a brand (51:21)
• What's your mission? (55:25)

Andrea Schwanbeck is the owner of Brass Tacks Photography, a studio located in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. Originally from Andover, Mass., Andrea graduated from Bentley University with a degree in finance. Before pursuing a full-time career in luxury wedding photography, Andrea worked in radio advertising and jigsaw puzzle licensing, among other things. A former collegiate swimmer, Andrea is also a proud Type 1 diabetic.

To find out more about Andrea's services, please visit BrassTacksPhotography.com or @brasstacksphotography on Instagram.

This podcast is hosted, written, researched, and produced by Spotify's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Troy Farkas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To support this show, please leave a review of "Seacoast Stories" on ⁠⁠⁠our Apple Podcasts page.⁠ To enter the contest mentioned in the podcast, please DM @seacoaststoriespodcast.

*For tickets to support Troy at the Catapult Seacoast "10 to Watch" event on Nov. 13 at The Press Room, ⁠⁠click here.