Five (and a half) things that have helped me grow as a photographer lately

1- FILM. Hands down, the number one factor that has helped propel my photography forward lately is learning to shoot with an analog camera. When I say learning, I mean flailing around like a baby bird just learning to fly. I know I know everyone and their grandma (because film) is talking about film these days; it's a buzz word, a trendy form of art. Now, I am the first one to turn the other direction and run when something starts to become trendy. I do not like doing something just because everyone else is doing it. BUT. Film. I promise, it's not just hype to appease the hungry crowd that loves the next shiny thing. Film is true and good. “Everyone” learning to make sourdough, mend clothes, homestead, shoot film? They are not doing anything new. Think of it more as a return to essence, to what is real. So, anyway, how has film helped me grow as a photographer? It has caused me to NOTICE. To really SEE. To shoot from a place of wonder, calm, and slight mystery rather than panic and greed (I need to control everything!!!). When people say the process of shooting film is different, it just is. You gotta experience it for yourself. I notice light more. I notice expressions. I am more aware of the composition. Blame it on the price tag, or the fact that I cannot view the photo immediately afterward, but film changes the way I shoot. So, if you’re reading this. Try shooting film. Not because it’s trendy, but because some random girl on the internet (me) told you to. You (not your wallet) will thank me later!

2- Practice. My dad used to (and still does) always tell me that you can’t be a writer if you don’t write. Same goes with photography. You can’t be a photographer if you don’t write. What? No, I’m kidding. You can’t be a photographer if you don’t photograph. I have found that growing in photography happens much quicker when I am doing it DAILY. Now, I am not rigid with this. But, I do try to pull out my camera more often than not. Get in those reps. On top of simply practicing, I try to practice with intention. I don’t want to be taking photos just for the sake of it, but when I notice that sparkly light in the morning while my kids are doing a puzzle? Pull out the camera. When I see an interesting combination of poppy colors? Pull out the camera. When I notice the evening light cascading across our porch steps? Pull out the camera. I have also heard it said that one can be much more spontaneous while playing an instrument if they know the instrument super well. Likewise, the more we know our camera and how it works, the more we can focus on the good stuff (the feelings, the moment, the rush of emotion) rather than the technical stuff. Unless you like technical stuff. Then you can focus on that too, duh. 

3- Confidence. This one goes hand in hand with practicing. Of course, as I have practiced more, I have grown in my confidence to consistently (that’s the key!) create meaningful photos. I am learning the language. The language of light, of movement, of color, of space, of composition. Confidence not only helps me direct my clients better (read: boss my kids around!) but has also helped me own up to my “identity” as a photographer. I put identity in quotes because I believe my identity goes much deeper than that; however, calling myself a photographer both out loud and in my brain gives me a sense of ownership. And ownership tends to make us active doers rather than passive recipients of life. I will be the first one to say, after ten plus years of doing this things on and off, I am still learning some of the basics, and at the same time I am starting to give myself credit for the work I am capable of creating and am creating. I have begun to close the gap of that which I desire to create and that which I am actually creating. I feel good. Nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh. 

4- Learning from others. While confidence goes a long way, so does humility and a teachable spirit. I have actively been working (hoping?) to surround myself with artists and other creatives- people pursuing their passions with gumption and heart. Although it is of some value to be directly influenced by teachers and mentors, I have found that I am often most affected by indirect inspiration. That is to say, a line in a book, a sentence someone speaks, or a radically bold life, will often stir something in me that no amount of direct teaching (press this button here) could ever dare to reach. While I am still dreaming of a creative community here in Nebraska (more to come on that later), I have been able to glean from podcasts and stories from artists and photographers around the world (sounds so grandiose, more like Chicago and Kansas City). 

5- Keeping the momentum/just focusing on doing the next thing. I will end with this one. Simply reminding myself to take the next step forward has worked wonders for me (well, maybe not wonders, but it did make this blog post happen). I am someone who can be so in my head with dreams and visionary ideas, that I lose sight of what is needed of me NOW. So, while I will still keep dreaming up a kids’ shoot for Zara, I will also respond to that email in my inbox (oh no, did I forget to email you back?). Work with what you got, baby. Meaning, be grateful for the people and work right in front of you. And if it is not right in front of you, try to reach out and find someone to make it happen with you. Or photograph a tree, a leaf, a dog. I don’t know, get creative (you are creative right?)

5.5- The bonus one that is mostly a joke? Have kids! Ha! I kid (no pun intended). Honestly, I have thought more than once that my photography life is so much richer with three muses always under my feet. It used to be my three younger sisters, and now it is my three beautiful children. Regardless of whether you find yourself a mother or not, the point is to draw meaning from the people right in front of you and find the time to regularly create with them if you can. There are all sorts of opinions out there about photographing your kids, but I don’t take it too seriously. Most of the time, I sneakily grab my camera and try to simply photograph them doing what they’re already doing. Sometimes I do ask (mostly my oldest) to grab a flower or stand there or jump over here and then she usually does something totally weirder and better and I photograph that. Sometimes, my kids outright say they don’t want to take pictures and most of the time I put my camera away and just be present with them. But, they are also my kids, and I remember that I ask them to do a lot of things they don’t necessarily want to do, so taking a picture can be one of them. Remember: blogs are not the place to make judgments about other parents, okay?

I will leave you with this: “Let your fiction (insert: photography, other forms of art, etc.) grow from the land beneath your feet” -Willa Cather.