Hello Friends! Welcome to 2010 on the blog. I’ve got some great photo sessions to share with you this month but before we get to all that, let me tell you all about a new series I’m excited to add to the blog. Those of you who have been following me for awhile now know that this space has gone through a lot of changes in the last year. Growing from a hobby photographer and writer to professional photographer and business owner has changed my perspective in many ways and has given me a more focused subject to write about. I’ve missed having a place to write for writing sake and have gotten out of practice in the art of photographing everyday things. So with the new year I’m launching a new series. Welcome to the first installment of Dream, Grow, Inspire! And because a blog post is naked without a picture…here’s a shot of the sad old artichoke in our garden.
Dream- I’ve found myself making a long list of things I want to do. Dreams I’ve been dreaming about for months and have done nothing to make them reality. Things like showcasing my photography at the coffee shop down the street or hosting a workshop for past clients and friends to teach them how to use their cameras and take better pictures of their kids. I’m dreaming of owning my own home this year and hopefully getting pregnant. I’m dreaming of not needing a day job and working from home full time. As the weeks progress, I’ll give you more details on these dreams and let you know how they develop.
Grow – I received the “Annie Leibovitz At Work” book for Christmas. I remember hearing about her book last year around this time when others blogged about this very same gift. I have to admit that I don’t really care for all her work and never intended to own any of it. For some reason I found myself begrudging her fame and good fortune whenever my eyes landed on a spread of hers in a magazine. Okay, I’m jealous of Annie. But what I read in this book of hers changed my thinking about her and in turn it changed me. Annie has access to some of the best subjects in the world (celebrities, politicians, royalty, etc.). How can you go wrong with extremely photogenic people who enjoy being in front of a camera and come with a fabulous wardrobe? A lot, apparently. Just like me, she had similar struggles learning to deal with natural light and creating artificial light – through trial and error. Just like me, she had to lean to take control of her sessions and direct people to make a good photograph. Just like me, not every photograph she makes is a good one. Sometimes she gets the exposure wrong or misses a great opportunity. Just like me. So I’m glad I read her book. I understand now that she is a very hard worker who has made plenty of mistakes to get to the good pictures. You have to be willing to take risks and be wrong. You have to be willing to have some bad ideas. Because sometimes, those ideas turn out great and you’ll never get anywhere if you have no ideas at all. When I grow up, I want to be as good as Annie – and I’m willing to work as hard as her to get it.
Inspire – I heard an interesting conversation on the radio the other day. The topic was movies that make more sense or have greater meaning once you see it a second time. I suppose you could apply this topic to all art forms – books, music, photography, etc. Some art creates an instant emotion while others take a little longer to sink your teeth into. When we invest the time to understand and explore the possibilities and meaning behind the art, we open ourselves to new ways of thinking, seeing, and creating. Curiosity is key to creation.
And speaking of curiosity, if you’re curious about seeing some boudoir pictures from a session I did last month, be sure to check back here on Monday! Or, you could click the subscribe button at the top of the page and it’ll automatically show up in your reader. Don’t have a reader? Check out the email subscription option and get the latest stories and pictures in your inbox. Till next time…
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