I used to be embarrassed about what my photography used to look like. When I first started 7 years ago, I thought it was awesome! As the years went by, I would continually look back and about die over how awful it was. How could I have thought THAT was good? But lately I have had a change of heart. Everyone has to start somewhere and instead of being completely appalled by what my old work looks like, I have come to embrace it. It has shaped me into the photographer I am now. It shows me exactly how much growth I have had in the years I have done photography. It shows the way I have emotionally connected with my subjects much more than I ever used to do. I have to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has believed in me from day one (back when I seriously had no idea what I was doing ). Family, friends, and clients (who seem to always become friends)- I couldn't have come this far without you!
PHOTOGRAPH BELOW TAKEN IN 2009 OF MY NIECE
PHOTOGRAPH BELOW TAKEN THIS YEAR OF MY NIECE
Another area of growth is competition. There are sooooooo many photographers out there that it is easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. That used to consume me. Instead of working on my own progress and growth, I was constantly seeing what everyone else was doing and that was such a waste of my time! It also brought in so much self doubt and made me feel like I was failing. Now I look back and realize I was growing-not failing. Instead of competing with others, I compete with myself. Each session I think to myself, make these images even more beautiful, even more thought provoking, even more emotion-filled than the last. It is that mind-set that has pushed me farther than I have ever been. I am so much happier in my business than I have ever been.
PHOTOGRAPH BELOW TAKEN IN 2009 Of Robbie & Tony
PHOTOGRAPH BELOW TAKEN THIS YEAR OF WADE AND BONNEE
Finally, a shout-out to my fellow photographer friends and other small-business creatives who have accepted the Community over Competition movement. By coming together, we achieve so much more than we can by ourselves. I am happy to say that you have all become some of my very best friends! We just GET each other when others just don't understand our crazy, our busy, and our passion. I am so blessed to have you ladies by my side...learning, sharing, laughing, loving, growing, and DREAMING BIG TOGETHER!
