Photography Assistant

I have been checking Craigslist every day hoping to find ads posted by people looking for a portrait photographer, unfortunately there isn’t much out there right now. Today however I responded to an ad for a Photography Assistant needed for outdoor portrait sessions with a Fort Worth based portrait photographer. I would love to assist and in the process learn from a mentor, I just hope they don’t see me as a threat since I told them I am working on starting my own photography business. I will keep my fingers crossed, but try not to get my hopes up too much. Who am I kidding…they are sky high already!

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I Am An Artist. I Am A Photographer.

The other day I read a post by The Creative Mama that left me feeling inspired, and I thought I would share it with you in case you are in need of a little inspiration as well.

“Not long ago, I was journaling about some personal goals I would like to set for myself, and one of them was “become a writer.” I stopped, and thought about what I had written. I had referred to myself as a writer before, but through that written goal, I suddenly realized that I did not truly believe myself to be one.

I have often felt that I was too young and inexperienced to have anything of real value to say. I would write page after page in my journal- sometimes even on my blog. I’d tell myself  that I would be a “real writer” when I had gained more life experience, seen more places, had done more notable things… then I would have something to offer.

So often we struggle with allowing ourselves titles- “writer”, “photographer”, “artist”. I think we fear that if we refer to ourselves with those terms, we will have to live up them. We fear that more will be expected of us then we are able to give.

The truth is, I have always been a writer, whether I was brave enough to claim the title or not. For as long as I can remember, I have filled page after page of my journals with thoughts and opinions, memories and dreams- they were extensions of my very being.

It was not a matter of becoming a writer. What I really needed was to give myself permission to believe I was one already. I needed to let go of the fear that I would not have enough to offer, to let go of the fear of failure.

I am a writer. I am an artist.
(My heart sings to be able to confidently type those words.)

Many extremely creative people hide behind the word “aspiring”. It is okay to admit that you are still growing and have much to learn- we all do. We are each at a different point in our creative journey. I grow as an artist, photographer, and writer every single day. But when we boldly claim what we already are, within, we give ourselves permission to create. It is not about claiming to have “arrived”, it’s about claiming to be on the journey.

You, as an artist, have something amazing and unique to offer, right now. No one else sees and experiences the world the way you do. Your voice is your own, and if you are willing and brave enough to break yourself wide open and share your unique and beautiful heart, what comes out will be real- nothing “aspiring” about it. That kind of authenticity is extremely powerful, and is truly art.

I dare you to trust your own voice as it is right now. Give yourself permission to boldly claim who you already are. Just watch what happens.”

I am an artist. I am a photographer. Now watch me go after my dreams!

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The Bookworm

When I got home from picking up my daughter from school it was there, the skinny brown box I had been waiting for, sitting on the metal chair on our front porch. The books I had ordered late last week on Amazon.com had arrived, YAY! I ordered two that had been on my wish list for forever:

Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders, and Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

I also ordered one that I read about on Jasmine Star’s blog, that she recommended:

The E-Myth by Micheal E. Gerber

Before I can dig into those however I need to read two books that I bought last year and started, but never made it past the first couple chapters. Today I started (again) Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders. I am actually underlining parts I want to remember and be able to go back to, in PEN, which goes against my type-A personality completely. I like to keep my things nice, what can I say? I have a lot to learn and this is a great way to start!

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CreativeLive Workshop: Jasmine Star

Over the past several days I have had the immense privilege of watching Jasmine give a FREE five-day online workshop via CreativeLive, and I feel so lucky to have been able to participate. First because it was Jasmine Star, my favorite photographer hands down, and second because it was free and that is just about all I can afford right now. Jasmine is so awesome for openly giving of herself, her knowledge and experiences, to photographers out there like little ol’ me and I can’t wait to go back through it all again…so much to digest and put into action regarding my own photography business.

Thank you Jasmine, a million and one times, THANK YOU!

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Jasmine

For the past five years, give or take a month or two, I have been “trying” to get my photography business going and now I am realizing I wasn’t really DOING anything. I wanted to be a photographer but I wasn’t putting in the effort required to actually make it.

I am a HUGE fan of acclaimed wedding photographer Jasmine Star, and have read her blog off and on for awhile now. Recently I decided to go back and read her old blog, from day (or post) one, to try and figure out how she got to where she is today in a relatively short amount of time. Isn’t it totally awesome that she is willing to share her journey with the world so unabashedly? She is just like that, willing to help a fellow photographer or someone who wants to be one. Did I mention I am a HUGE fan?! Her first posts remind me of someone…me! It is amazing that someone like her felt the same things that I feel, struggled with the same things that I struggle with…fear of failure, of rejection. It has completely inspired me because if she could reach for the stars and exceed her wildest dreams then so can I! I am committing to this road, right here right now, I am on this journey and I will not stop until I make it. Period.

If you want to be inspired as I have check out Jasmine’s old blog here, and don’t forget to go back in the archives and start at the beginning. It is so worth it!

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A Time For Change

A lot of time has passed between posts…where did that time go?! We have been super busy as usual, and even more so a few months ago when we moved from California to our native Texas. That’s right…we are back to our roots! There are lots of changes in store for this blog and my business, and I can’t wait to share them with you. I like to think of this as a fresh start in a familiar place.

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Baby Gavin

I have been following Natalie’s blog Pics and Kicks for some time now, she is always inspiring with her photography and as a mother. About two months ago Natalie and her family welcomed their fourth son Gavin into the world, only to have him ripped away by illness. Natalie’s courage in the face of such heartbreaking tragedy is absolutely amazing, and without God impossible. Read her recent post here…get your Kleenex ready. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers that they will continue to have peace and comfort during this time of unimaginable pain.

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Boot Camp

My photography idol Jasmine Star wrote about reading a book called Digital Photography Boot Camp by Kevin Kubota, and I decided to make it the first of twelve photography and/or business related books I plan to read this year. I am three chapters in and already I feel I can learn a lot from this book. I can’t wait to read more!

Here is a picture I took of my daughter last week that I wanted to share. My husband said it is his favorite picture that I have taken so far…

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Carmel-by-the-Sea Escape

My husband and I recently celebrated our ten year anniversary, and as a treat took a little weekend getaway without the kids to escape from reality for a few days. We rented a cute little cottage in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA and despite me catching a cold the day before we left we had a wonderful time. We did miss the girls terribly and were so happy to be with them again when we got back! Here is a peek at our romantic getaway:

our favorite pizza: Ground Beef and Black Olives from Lamppost in Patterson, CA

the adorable phone booth outside our cottage to call the office

the living room in our adorable little cottage

living room/bath room

bedroom

not so ordinary breakfast

my husband and I got our first ever massages here, a 60 minute couples Swedish massage…heavenly

Cannery Row at night

breakfast at a bakery filled with delicious things

adorable ginger-bread men we bought the girls

our favorite beach (Carmel)

another favorite: Casa de Fruta!

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Thanksgiving Day

I know I am behind in posting these, but I am behind on just about everything after having out-of-town guests the week of Thanksgiving so I hope you will forgive me. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, good food, and football…and unfortunately for some of us a cold, but we enjoyed the day despite that.

My mom and my oldest decorated our table

The yummy stuffing I made from a new recipe I found in my November ‘09 Food Network Magazine (love that magazine!). It had bacon in it!!

Pioneer Woman’s rolls…enough said.

The turkey my husband made was the best we had ever tasted. It took three days of prep work (about an hour the first two days, then maybe three hours the day of). Every bite of turkey had amazing flavor!

My overly full plate…I was barely able to finish, but it was so good!

Pies!

So many dishes (about a third of the days dishes are pictured here). It took three loads in the dishwasher, plus three sinks full that were hand-washed to get it all done.

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