When I first found photography I had no idea how much it would change me. When I first picked up a camera it was like being born again. Yes, that does sound cheesy but it’s true! What I have learned since I started in photography is beyond what I expected. I started seeing things I’ve never seen before and I noticed the intense beauty of the colors around me. I was in Hawaii, which is breathtaking, to begin with, so this new light of seeing was addictive. I can remember seeing the sunset with this new perspective and being deeply moved.

I was also addicted to learning everything I could about photography.
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I joined a local photography group and received a ton of guidance in my new found passion and even became an intern. During my internship, I basically shadowed her sessions and got to carry around her gear. It doesn’t sound glamorous but I learned a lot about working with reflectors and how to work with light, I learned a lot about my gear and the technical aspect of a photographer in a short amount of time. I made sure I didn’t miss out a single learning opportunity.

- recognizing and developing your own style takes time
- posing people and editing shouldn’t take hours
- skin tones are really important
- seeing how color casts and knowing pure white is crucial

You will always be learning something new that you didn’t previously know.You will never stop learning.

 

You will always feel a bit left out, a bit behind and not good enough.

But that is part of the beauty of being an artist. What I have learned is that the beauty of being an artist is the constant state of wanting to improve and grow because what we do as photographers is really a gift. You have the ability to freeze time, you paint with a photo.

I have learned that once you start this thing called ‘photography’, you cannot go back because it becomes a part of you. The part of you that you have awakened was always within you and now that it is awake, it becomes an addiction, your way to heal and your source of joy. It’s not that you love photography, you need photography.

After realizing we are all in this perpetual cycle of learning, not feeling good enough, creating something we are proud of, then learning more, I learned a lot about myself. I have learned about what makes me happy and where I have found my place in the world. I know what I will do for the rest of my life, my life with a camera in my hand. I have learned that you have to take the road less traveled and that you have to find your voice within yourself instead of looking to other places or other artists.

​I have learned…

-to let go of old
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I have learned that you have to take the road less traveled that you have to find your voice within yourself and not look at other places or other artists.

I have learned to let go of old habits and to welcome new.

I have learned to enjoy the journey of being an artist.

I have learned that I'm in fact an entrepreneur that works until the midnight hours in order to reach my goals.
I did not know this about myself.

I learned that I have grits and that I will keep going no matter what obstacle is in my way.

I want you to know that YOU TOO are an artist, with grit and the ability to reach your dreams.  You are allowed to build a brand. You are allowed to fly high.