This Client Shoot Ended in Tears—and Changed Everything for Both of Us
filed under:
I cried in the car on the way home—and here’s why.
Yesterday, I wrapped my biggest production to date, and one of the most powerful shoots I’ve ever been a part of—and cried the entire car ride home.
Not because anything went wrong. Quite the opposite, actually.
Jackie + Sam of Kind Care Services wanted to better visually share their story and passion with the world, so they booked The Legacy Experience with Haven Built Media—our sub-brand focused on empowering mission-driven home care agencies through story-led branding. And it was absolutely transformational.
“I want to change my career. I want to be a model. I want to win the movies… ” Sam joked as we wrapped up. Safe to say they had a great time, yea? 😂🤪
They went on to say how the experience helped them see themselves and their business in a whole new light. That the interview process opened up perspectives they hadn’t even considered before. That the preparation, the process, the care—it all made them feel grounded, clear, and supported.
Then Jackie looked at me and said something that I wasn’t ready for—but that I needed to hear. My whole body reacted. The lump in my throat? Immediate.
“Jessi, you were born to do this. And I’m so glad you’re doing what you’re doing, honey. Because I could feel it.”
When the Camera' Stops's Rolling, Life Keeps Going
I cried because I felt the shift happening—for both of us.
For them, it was about stepping into their story and finally seeing themselves the way their clients already do: as powerful, compassionate leaders making a difference.
For me, it was a reminder that this work is about so much more than visuals or strategy—it’s about creating moments that matter. That mirror. That move people.
But here’s the part no one saw:
In the middle of this incredible, emotional shoot—right as we were filming their on-camera story—I saw my phone light up with a call from my son’s dad. I silenced it.
Because: silence on set. Because: professional mode.
And by the time I checked the message, it was too late. My son had forgotten his lunch, and I couldn't fix it. Not this time.
That’s the reality of being a business owner and a mom. Sometimes something has to give. And in that moment, it stung. Those tears? They were layered.
Guilt. Gratitude. Growth.
It’s in moments like that where the collision of motherhood and entrepreneurship hits hardest. When you're doing work that lights you up, but something personal slips through the cracks.
I cried because I’m proud.
I cried because I felt the impact.
And I cried because the weight of doing it all is real—even when you're doing it well.
This shoot changed something in them.
It changed something in me too.
