Lessons Learned From Photography

Over the past two years, I have learned a lot of lessons from photography. Some are practical, some specific to the art of photography, some emotional...however all were learned the hard way. To start, I can hardly believe it's been two years.  In some ways I feel like it's been two decades...we've gone through a move, two home disasters, cancer, death of a pet - all this while trying to balance my current job, family, and keep it all somewhat balanced.

These are in no particular order, so I won't number them...

* God put beauty in every single soul.  Maybe not a traditional, main stream "Vogue" kind of beauty, but I see it in everyone I have had the opportunity to photograph.  The love between a mother and newborn.  The laughter between siblings - both old and young.

* This ties a bit to the first, but I think is different...God put a lot more good in people than I used to think.  I am a self-admitted introvert/anti-social/socially awkward individual.  With that comes caution and skepticism.  Photography has forced me to work through that.   I continue to be amazed about the incredibly friendly, lovely people I meet every year.

* Always spot check your shots.  Nothing worse than bad surprises when you are home and too late to correct...ie autofocus was turned off...exposure setting was way way to light or dark.  Maybe that looks unprofessional to be scanning through the camera during a session, but I'd rather that be the case than have to send an apologetic email later explaining why I didn't get a good shot.

* Always make sure you have enough memory left on your card.  This almost caused a nervous break-down during the one wedding ceremony I photographed.

* Facebook can be incredibly gratifying...and then terribly humbling...oh the tears that this has involved.  In the same way that Facebook can be a great marketing tool, you can also see your competition...over and over...and the multitudes..they are everywhere. You can see the 50 "likes" one of your pictures received and then see the 5,000 another photographer received..along with their 1,000 fans and 50,000 talking about....it goes on and on.

* You can't control people.  This is a good and a bad thing.  As a person who hates telling others what to do (yes, this can be a challenge in posing for sure), I like that free will is a part of our lives.  But that same free will can cause people to take certain actions that sting.  I could go into so many examples here, but for the sake of anonymity I will not go further....

* Always make the husband look taller.  This is a recently learned tidbit from someone who I haven't actually taken their photo (yet) but a great point nonetheless. I am sure that I have taken a photo where the husband looked shorter than the wife, yet the family just never told me.

* Get ready for (sometimes) constructive criticism, whether you asked for it or not.  Some people are gentler with this than others.

* The most talented photographers aren't always the most successful.  A Photography Business is 80% business and 20% photography.  I try really hard not to question the success (in high points or low) that God has given. I get what I can handle and I trust that God knows that better than I ever could.

* If you don't have enough time or effort enough to take photographs of your own kids, something is wrong.  That balance is off.

* Humble yourself, or you shall be humbled.  Ties into the Facebook lesson.

* Photography Business involves having thick skin.  And if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...