Can I be honest? We're friends, right?
I just want to chat for a few minutes because I feel like all of my blog posts up to this point have been pretty formal and that's so not me. I get such writer's block when I sit down to write my blog posts that I get frustrated and eventually I just resort back to high school writing and list my ideas, my supporting facts, write a closing and hope at least someone reads it. lol
So here's "me" for just a little bit. (this is the part where I hope you don't think I'm a crazy person by the end! LOL!)
I just want to chat for a few minutes because I feel like all of my blog posts up to this point have been pretty formal and that's so not me. I get such writer's block when I sit down to write my blog posts that I get frustrated and eventually I just resort back to high school writing and list my ideas, my supporting facts, write a closing and hope at least someone reads it. lol
So here's "me" for just a little bit. (this is the part where I hope you don't think I'm a crazy person by the end! LOL!)
I adore photography. I have always loved it. It used to be about picking up a camera and taking a good picture of someone. Or something. Flowers. Flowers are easy. They don't emote, they don't move, they don't cry when you put on a clown nose and they don't need bribing with candy... or dollar bills. Yes, I've done that. Not bribed flowers with money.. but kids. My own kids, mostly, but other people's kids too... now I'm rambling. Sorry. The point is that photography USED to just be taking pictures. But it's so much more than that to me now, at this point in my life and my "career".
I have never had a photography class. Well, I did take a 2 hour class on portrait lighting this summer, but other than that, everything I know about photography I have learned on my own, through reading (TONS of reading!!), critique from other photographers and trial and error. I don't know everything there is to know. I mean, does anyone? This business is constantly changing with updates in software, equipment, technology, etc.... but I've learned so much that not only has filled my brain with f stops, ISO's, shutter speeds, rules of thirds, spirals, triangles, lighting angles, etc, etc, etc. but I've put so much time and effort into learning it. I've made so many new friends, good friends. And I've put so much of myself, my heart, into it that I'm all in .
Photography has become a passion. I hate to use that word because it can be so cliche, but hear me out! The definition of "passion" is: strong and barely controllable emotion. THAT is what photography is for me. When I see something beautiful I want to take a picture of it. When I'm in a beautiful setting I want to take a picture of it. I can't control myself. I'll even attack someone if I see a "photo op". True story: I was at Old Man's Cave one afternoon and there was a couple walking down a path with their minister and they climbed up on this big rock and they proceeded to get married, right then and there. Just the three of them. No photographer! So I ran toward the rock and I started taking pictures and when they left I stopped them and asked for their email address so I could email them the photos I had taken. I don't know who I thought I was, they obviously didn't ask me to do that, and maybe they didn't want me to do that... but it was special for me and I wanted it to be special for them. If I'm somewhere and I see someone struggling with a "selfie" I will TOTALLY walk up to them and ask if I can take it for them! lol! I have a problem I think! :) I just want to make people happy and share my passion with them. I want my passion to come across in my photography, especially for my clients. And perfect strangers. LOL!
I have never had a photography class. Well, I did take a 2 hour class on portrait lighting this summer, but other than that, everything I know about photography I have learned on my own, through reading (TONS of reading!!), critique from other photographers and trial and error. I don't know everything there is to know. I mean, does anyone? This business is constantly changing with updates in software, equipment, technology, etc.... but I've learned so much that not only has filled my brain with f stops, ISO's, shutter speeds, rules of thirds, spirals, triangles, lighting angles, etc, etc, etc. but I've put so much time and effort into learning it. I've made so many new friends, good friends. And I've put so much of myself, my heart, into it that I'm all in .
Photography has become a passion. I hate to use that word because it can be so cliche, but hear me out! The definition of "passion" is: strong and barely controllable emotion. THAT is what photography is for me. When I see something beautiful I want to take a picture of it. When I'm in a beautiful setting I want to take a picture of it. I can't control myself. I'll even attack someone if I see a "photo op". True story: I was at Old Man's Cave one afternoon and there was a couple walking down a path with their minister and they climbed up on this big rock and they proceeded to get married, right then and there. Just the three of them. No photographer! So I ran toward the rock and I started taking pictures and when they left I stopped them and asked for their email address so I could email them the photos I had taken. I don't know who I thought I was, they obviously didn't ask me to do that, and maybe they didn't want me to do that... but it was special for me and I wanted it to be special for them. If I'm somewhere and I see someone struggling with a "selfie" I will TOTALLY walk up to them and ask if I can take it for them! lol! I have a problem I think! :) I just want to make people happy and share my passion with them. I want my passion to come across in my photography, especially for my clients. And perfect strangers. LOL!
I'm still learning every day. I absolutely mess up. I make mistakes. And just about every session I walk away from, there is something I wish I had done differently, but every session is a learning experience and I walk away stronger and with more knowledge than I had when I got there. To be honest, I still struggle with studio lighting! You would think it's as simple as setting up a lightbulb and using your camera but there's sooooo much more to it than that! lol! When I was starting out, I even made a family orange once. Orange. Here's the proof. This doesn't even do the orange justice. When I printed these images. It was bad. Not my most proud moment. Honestly. Christian, if you're reading this, I would love to offer your family a free session that I PROMISE will not make your family look like Oompa Loompas. I would love to be able to post this photo beside a beautiful, perfectly lit, perfectly colored family photo!
I have come a long way since Christian's family photo gone wrong. With all my learning and trial and error and more learning and practice, practice, practice, I'm so very proud of what I'm able to do with my camera these days. The engagement session I had with Jaclyn and Chris recently was a breakout moment for me. I wasn't busy with sessions over winter so I spent a lot of time studying and when I finally got to put all my new knowledge and ideas and inspiration to use, beautiful things happened. I mean, it helped that I had such a beautiful couple to work with and a great, bustling city like Columbus, Ohio in which to shoot, but still...
I have come a long way since Christian's family photo gone wrong. With all my learning and trial and error and more learning and practice, practice, practice, I'm so very proud of what I'm able to do with my camera these days. The engagement session I had with Jaclyn and Chris recently was a breakout moment for me. I wasn't busy with sessions over winter so I spent a lot of time studying and when I finally got to put all my new knowledge and ideas and inspiration to use, beautiful things happened. I mean, it helped that I had such a beautiful couple to work with and a great, bustling city like Columbus, Ohio in which to shoot, but still...
This is one of my favorite shots from that day. Such a drastic difference from Christian's family session. I'm so proud of myself. And I think back to when I had just started and how proud I was of my sessions then and I think about the future and wonder if I will look back on Jaclyn and Chris' session and marvel at how far I've come since then too?
I guess what this all comes down to is this: I'm obsessed with photography. I want to be the absolute best I can possibly be. I'm sure it will take me a very long time to get where I dream of being in my career, but for now, I'm doing the best I can do with what I have and what I know right now in my life and on my journey. I not only want to be A photographer, I want to be YOUR photographer. I want you to want me to be your photographer. (Great, now I'm going to sing that song all night!)
I guess what this all comes down to is this: I'm obsessed with photography. I want to be the absolute best I can possibly be. I'm sure it will take me a very long time to get where I dream of being in my career, but for now, I'm doing the best I can do with what I have and what I know right now in my life and on my journey. I not only want to be A photographer, I want to be YOUR photographer. I want you to want me to be your photographer. (Great, now I'm going to sing that song all night!)