I’ve wanted to take a new turn with my photography for a while now. I’m tired of perfect smiles and kids always looking at the camera. I want real. I want life.
That is the direction I’m heading. I want a collection of life, not a collection of perfect poses and photoshopped skin.
When you start out with photography most people want a clean, bright look and do everything in their grasp to not show the grain from high ISO’s. I’ve learned to love high ISO’s because we can’t always have the perfect light. I don’t want to ask my kids to move to a open window all the time, I want to capture them and what they are doing. High ISO numbers were made for this, grain is just along for the ride.
I have been re-doing this blog for DAYS trying to find what fits me. Trying out new fancy logos, new color schemes, new templates…nothing was working. Then I came across a blog that had words written on a picture and that spoke to me. All her image said was “stories”. DING DING DING. Stories! Yes! Sign me up!
Photography should never be about what everyone else wants. I have the camera, it’s about how I see it. Photography is about stories! That lady had it so right!
I’ve often realized that I love photography, it’s very apparent. I can’t stay away from it for long. So why is it that I get burnt out so often? It’s because I DO love photography, I just don’t like the nights and weekends. I decided to be a stay at home mom over 7 years ago when little Miss Ava came into our lives so why do I feel that I need to work now? I think it’s what happens with this hobby. Your friends see the love you have for it and want a collection of life of their children so they ask you to take some shots( I used to ask friends too). Then those comments from friends and families of the friends gives you a “high” like no other. You brought a smile to so many people with that image, so why not bring it to others as well? It’s so hard to find that dividing line between how often to offer out your skill, and how much to charge for your time. Then it’s “Oh Honey I need that other lens to really get the great shots,” and “this editing software is critical to good images.” Do you see a pattern?
I want to be here for the weekends over the next critical years that my children still want me to be in their lives. I don’t want to miss the Sunday mornings that they dress up as spies and go on secret missions.
Does that mean that I will never take on a photo session for other people? Nope. It just means that my precious family time with these two kids is just temporary. They won’t always be this young. The extra money is nice, but I’d rather have these memories, than that money! I feel like I come round and round with this decision and always end up right here. The reality is that it’s just really really HARD to say no.
Kate Elizabethgertrudeviolet Reginalolitaflorabellamarlowe - Guilty as charged. I am so wanting a 24-70mm lens lately, (which, since I can’t afford, I’d seriously considered renting to own.) And a newer version of photoshop. This post reminded me that what I’m doing, what I’m learning isn’t about the things, it’s about the subjects and the people, (myself included.) Thank you!
Christina Livingston - Cyndi, I think being a stay at home mom is a very important job….the most important….God has certainly given you a gift of photograpy….just cut out specific times for each…more for the kiddos….and don’t forget to speak your husband’s love language…to find out what it is just google 5 love languages…there are a couple of 30 question tests you can take and there are 5 love languages for kids, too…learn what they are and enjoy.
Cindi Hatcher Murphy - I’ve read that! Excellent information!! It taught me so much about my kids. I am just cutting back and taking more time for the kids. When you add in military life on top of regular daily struggles it can be overwhelming. Adam seems to always be gone at some new training course so it’s already tough on the kids. I can still do fun shoots and bring them along. I don’t feel like I’d be missing out.