I've been powering on for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I absolutely love taking pictures. I love taking pictures of other people with their loved ones. Starting this business is a way for me to give to other people something that is important to me.
The biggest and most important reason is that I want to teach my boys by example. How can I teach them to follow their dreams if I don't follow my own dreams? How can I teach them to find what makes you happy and DO IT if I don't relentlessly pursue the things that make me happy?
When I start to doubt, I pick up the camera and remind myself I'm not just doing this for me. And when I see the results of those shutter clicks, I have faith again I am on the right path.
20 comments:
"How can I teach them to find what makes you happy and DO IT if I don't relentlessly pursue the things that make me happy"
Love this. And as the recipient of your amazing talent you are on the right path.
Canvas grouping is my mothers day gift to myself. I can't wait until the new house, I want to look at those beautiful images of my boys and family everyday.
I need to upload an album to Fb, I changed my profile pic last night and already had a couple of people comment on the pic (the $ family shot)
Your litmus test should be, "did they one of my photos for a Fb profile pic"
No doubts here.
I think you said something really poignant about setting an example for your boys about showing them how to follow their dreams, but then you posted that picture and completely distracted me. All I can think of now is, "Awww..."
Doubt can suck it. I know all about being your own worst critic. I think we all do it to some extent, but I think the more you're immersed in something, the more you see the imperfections.
Truly, I have seen people who hang a shingle and call themselves photographers and I wonder what they're thinking. Your shots? I wonder why you haven't done it sooner. Seriously, you have a gift. I can't wait to have some TLC shots of my own.
You speak of this in terms of art, passion and personal satisfaction. If you try to make it into a business you might loose that. I know that in our culture that if it is not attached to money we find little use for it. It makes you happy. It is important, maybe essential, for human beings to create. When it becomes a business it is about the customer and the customer may not always like your best work. Have you thought about exhibiting? Of course you do exhibit every day on your blog but you might want to exhibit IRL.
Long-time lurker coming out of the shadows to say that your photos strike me as very professional (admittedly, I don't know anything about photography). If by chance you are looking for photography subjects in your area to practice on, we have four little boys (6, 4, and 2 year old twins), and we're in Greensboro. We could meet you somewhere along Highway 40 this summer if you wanted to try your hand at getting four squirmy little boys to do what you want in front of the camera! Let me know here in the comments, and I'll send you my contact info.
I love that shot of the boys. I have loved watching your photography grow into something truly amazing and you inspire me by following your dream. So although I know there is no real way to keep that doubt from creeping up on you, I also know you will just say no to the doubt. Go big or go home right?
Laura, if anyone can do this, you can do this! And you already have grown so much! Your shots are amazing! Continue to find joy in it and it will take off! I wish I could give my own inner critic the 'silent treatment'. I can't wait for the 'official' launch but in my mind, you launched this long ago!
Oh, I LOVE that one!!! Does it lose it's impact if I say you will rock this again? Because I still mean it to the fullest.
Again you have taken an amazingly real, unbelievably sweet, incredibly technically correct shot of two of the sweetest subjects ever. You are phenomenally talented, crazy passionate, and wildly awesome example for your boys (and friends) I expect we will see big things from you, and I'll be proud to say our family was one of your first!
Follow your Dream! I will hire you to take pictures of us and our dog (no kids yet). I've been following your blog since joining MOVE IT 2011 and I'm an old friend of HeatherV. I'll also be at the Warrior Dash in August and hope to me you in person. HeatherV's family pics are great!
Michelle, YES contact me. I am planning to go to Charlotte soon to take pics of my BFF Irene and her family. Greensboro is on the way.
Email me Laura.Case at gmail
Love this post! Love that photo. I think everyone has those feelings of doubt when starting something new. It's a different kind of job, so personal, and the rewards are so great, again, so personal. Your work is awesome, you're going to rock as a Photographer!!!!
Laura, since we used 3 of the pictures that you took for our birth announcement, I have to say that your doubts have no basis in reality.
Acutally, my husband and I were just discussing 1 month (or, more likely 6 week, since we missed 1 month already) pictures, and Chris said "Why don't you call Laura?" So, you've got repeat customers, if you want them!
You can do it!!!!!!
And on that note is your email addy on here somewhere?
I have both questions and insight for you maybe :)
I love that you lead by example in teaching your boys to follow a dream. Many of us are just trying to get through the week! Thanks for the reminder to dream big and follow through and that it is a wonderful lesson for your kids too.
A wise woman once told me to Dream Big.
So here goes:
I reallllly want Laura C. to come to Baltimore. And bring her cameras. And her ability to get two uncooperative little boys to look like total angels in photographs.
Thanks.
Oh Laura,
this picture is another pearl in your(photo)"necklace".
A BEAUTY!
Marion.
Such a wonderful shot! I'd sure as heck pay you to shoot my family!!
Love what you said about setting the example. I really needed to read this today.
What an inspirational post!! You can be and will be incredibly successful at this. (And please don't hold the one tiny negative discussion we had against me -- you know that was ONLY from a business perspective, and was just a heads-up sort of thing.)
Laura - you rock. Period.
Post a Comment