This week I was thrilled to attend the Bellies and Babies Tour taught by the brilliant photographer and mother of four Sam Puc. Sam is also the founder of Now I lay Me Down to Sleep. An organization that specializes in infant bereavement photography.
The workshop lasted from 5 - 11 pm and was such a generous amount of knowledge. I took so many notes and soaked in so much new information. I met a lot of terrific photographers from the area who generously invited me to their studios to see how they operate. I love meeting new people who are willing to share what they know. I feel the same way. I do not know a lot yet, but I love bouncing ideas off of other people with the same interest. One thing I truly believe in is that I am only in competition with myself. It wouldn't bother me if my neighbor, my best girlfriend, and several other people I know wanted to start a photography business. I would be happy for them because I know how happy this makes me. I know that other area photographers will be more lucrative than I will be. I am on my own path...my life, my photography will evolve in it's own unique way and I am so excited to wake up everyday to see what unfolds.
Hearing Sam speak and meeting these other brilliant photographers makes me realize how much I still have to grow...how much potential I still have. It is a little intimidating, but scary at the same time. I still know very very little as far as photography and business go, but I am SO EXCITED to learn. Here is an analogy of the way I see it:
If photography and a photography business was a 94 story building, I am still standing in the basement....but what an awesome basement it is! I fully understand that it may take me 6 years to climb to the 2nd floor, but it will be such and exciting climb. I know someday when I am standing on one of the higher floors, I will look down at the lower floors with such fond and exciting memories.
Each day I work on it a little more, learn a little more. Right now the questions I have to ask myself these important questions: What is my identity? What makes me unique? I know the answers, but I do not know how to put them into words yet.
I know that I will fail a lot of times and make many mistakes. Those failures and mistakes will be stepping stones to solutions and success.
I have seriously considered joining "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep." I worry that I don't have the time to really commit to it. It sounds like a wonderful program.
Posted by: Paxton Prints | February 21, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Sounds like you were right where you're supposed to be! I love the building analogy!! You're on your way, missy!
Posted by: Katy Fulkerson | February 18, 2008 at 01:01 PM