I haven’t updated in awhile. Sometimes life gets crazy like that. My family has been going through a very personal and overwhelming time of adjustment. During this time, I’ve simplified my life in every way possible, including my photography business in order to process through the difficulties in a way that is healthy and balanced.
Funny thing is, during this time some amazing things are also happening, creatively and personally. I sense a change in direction for my photography and artistic skills. I don’t have a full grasp on all this will entail just yet, but I feel exciting things on the horizon.
For now, I will continue to do the shoots that I love to do on a minimal basis.
What this means for you, my wonderful clients and supporters:
1. I will only be scheduling shoots on Saturdays in the early evening hours. I can make exceptions to this for reschedules if needed.
2. I will not be offering wedding photography until further notice. I have loved the weddings I’ve done, but will need to wait until I have better resources at my disposal before I resume this genre of photography.
3. I no longer offer studio photography as I do not have the space available. I am still interested in boudoir and newborn photography, done in my studio space in the past, but have had some success using the home setting for these and would like to offer that as a solution for future sessions.
4. I made myself a promise this year to only shoot the kinds of things I love. This is harder to define, but one thing I will no longer be offering is large group photography. I will still be doing family shoots of course, but large groups of extended family is not something I feel I can do at this time. If you have questions about this, please ask.
I want to offer my creative skills in a way that I am great at and as a result, in a way you will love. This means I need to operate within the boundaries that I feel the best about my art. I have said many times that I am not a photographer for everyone. I am an artist that works best with people who want me to create my art for them and give me the freedom to do so.
I hope above all to continue to create works of beauty for all who appreciate and want it.
I haven’t updated my music-that-makes-me-swoon for awhile. I discovered these through a new friend and I just love them. So cool and mellow. It makes me dance. Not well, but no one has to see.
Through the years, I’ve had a lot of creative outlets. I’ve always been heavy on the creative side of the brain and light on the practical side. But something happens when you put your creative talents into a business. Sure, it’s really my dream job, even though I’m still at the 0h-my-gosh-will-my-bills-get-paid-this-month stage.
So, here’s a confession: I am very feelings oriented when it comes to wanting to shoot. Or really doing anything. That intuitiveness of knowing when my peak creative times can be a great thing, but the last couple years I’ve learned that creativity can be a discipline also.
Photography as a business has taught me several things about myself. I’ve learned that even though I am a total introvert, once I get out of myself and meet the people I am photographing, I love it. Maybe I’ve just been really blessed by working with such fabulous people, but I am slowly learning to get over my shyness.
It’s also taught me that even when I don’t necessarily feel like shooting, it’s always beneficial. I can’t remember one time that I came back from a shoot feeling the same funk that I felt before it started. It’s like all the stress from my daily life just melts away when I get the camera in my hand and I start solving the problems of light, posing and composition.
In between paid sessions, I give myself assignments also. I love doing artistic self portraits, something I’ve carried over from art school when I used to paint and draw. (Now you’re all going to think I’m a goon). I used to spend a lot of time photographing my own kids, but really they’re sick of me and my camera. And self portraits have taught me so much about posing and light for when I do other sessions.
Every artist knows that you can’t wait until you feel like it to create. It’s great when that burst of inspiration hits, but discipline to create when that burst isn’t there really does develop something awesome inside that you can draw upon over and over.
Kansas weather is so strange. It’s like my Rihanna Pandora station; it will play 5 predictable Rihanna type artists and then throw in Five for Fighting. Huh? We get plummeted with several feet of snow in a couple weeks time. Then boom! Flip flop weather for a few days. Personally, I don’t mind it because I like change. My body doesn’t like it, but my mind needs the variety; the unpredictable. I’m wired a little differently I guess.
But I’ll be honest, it’s this time of the year that those few days of flip flops and no jackets are just a big fat tease. The carrot in front of the horse, the shiny toy in front of the baby, the chocolate in front of the dieter.
I’m ready to get out and capture some beautiful images of interesting people. I hope you all are ready to be captured. As much as I’ve loved using the studio this winter, the world outside these walls will always be my canvas. I love taking the available light and finding new ways to use it to make people shine.
Spring is a great time to book those family photos. We tend to put these things off. Life gets busy. But you know, life goes so fast. You want to capture those precious faces now. You want to freeze this moment in time. You want to have those images 10, 20, 40 years from now. Trust me.
Photography is unique in that it’s the only medium able to freeze time. Take that and add the creativity of an artist and you’ll have beautiful images to treasure for a lifetime. Book your session today for Spring to ensure your spot is reserved.
While picking up the last snow shovel at Dollar General yesterday, the cashier took a veiled look out at the beginnings of the big snowstorm and then he turned back to me.
“Do you at least like the snow?” I knew then that he had been stuck behind that counter, no doubt forced to listen to who knows how many people gripe about winter’s woes.
I was stuck. He was obviously looking for that one person to feed him some good vibes after his long day of absorbing the grumpy vibes. I’ve been there, I remember what that’s like.
So I said, “Uh” for a really long time.
Then I said, “Well, it’s pretty.” And since I had used most of my time saying, “Uh,” he was done ringing up my 2 things, so I hurried out of there.
I did my best. Because the truth is, while I wouldn’t have complained to him, I detest winter. Especially at the end of January when the end is close, but not close enough.
And yes, I do think the snow is pretty.
I admire it’s cold pure beauty often as I stare out my window; listening to the sounds of my children eating each other alive in the background because everyone is sick to death of being inside with nothing to do.
Life is full of gray. The older I get the more I see it. Choices aren’t black and white anymore. The gray is comfortable and apathetic. It’s the old blankie that is so familiar, but hasn’t been washed for several months.
The gray is Switzerland.
And it’s where most of us live. In the undefined moments, waiting for the sun to come out and throw some light on things.
It’s unavoidable really, just like the cold winter. But gray doesn’t have to be the mire.
If anything, it is the prelude to the cathartic moment where everything clears and reveals what really matters.
But something happens when you put your creative talents into a business. Sure, it’s really my dream job, even though I’m still at the 0h-my-gosh-will-my-bills-get-paid-this-month stage.
crazy cool peeps are saying: