I need acceptance and approval from other people // Emily + TJ

Confession: I need acceptance and approval from other people. And so does everyone else. Whether we are seeking approval from our friends, parents, significant others, or co-workers, it is a natural emotion we all share. Although I deal with this in my personal life, I can mostly relate to it with my photography. Even more so than from my clients, I crave confirmation from fellow photographers. I used to look at others' work and have feelings of envy and competitiveness, but the moment that I realized that they probably want and need that confirmation as well, is when that envy turned into admiration. I used to catch myself being absolutely in love with someone's photo and not telling them, simply because I was jealous. I was robbing them of a chance to feel proud and good about themselves. It MAKES MY WEEK when a photographer that I admire even likes my photo on facebook. It always inspires me to do the same, so I then go on a spree of liking, commenting, and reaching out, in hopes to continue the cycle of positivity. The biggest compliment is when another photographer asks me to photograph them. Sometimes clients hire a photographer because they don't know who else to go to. Photographers know many many other photographers, so it's clear that they are choosing me for my style. Emily, a fellow photographer, asked me to photograph her and her husband. I was honored. I took these photographs last year and although my style has changed since then, I am still in love with them. Emily is amazing. She thinks of the photography community as a team, rather than individual competitors. Instead of hoarding her knowledge, she took me to her two favorite locations and told me exactly where she had stood in the past for the best light. I talked her through some free-lensing techniques and we bonded over photography, instead of feeling intimidated by each other. Photographers: ask another photographer on a photo date, exchange portraits, and learn form each other. I have an entire list here of photographers that I want to photograph and have them photograph me. 

---

Austin, TX // Lauren

I have been putting off this whole blog thing for a while now. It could be because I know that once I start, I have to keep it up to date; it could also be that I haven't written about anything since high school and it no longer comes naturally to me. I have always used excuses such as: "a photo is worth a thousand words" or "I want my photos to tell a story without using words". Lately, I have come to realize that it is important to talk about what these photos mean to me, as well as my clients. When I was in art school, I loved looking at my classmates' photos and creating my own story, then listening to theirs and comparing the two. 

I spent most of my summer in Austin, Texas with the intention of meeting and photographing as many new people as possible. I had only been there a week when I accidentally dropped my camera off a cliff...into the water. I was there with someone I had just met that day, so I tried my best to hold my composure until I got back to my car where I screamed and cussed and screamed and punched the steering wheel repeatedly. I didn't leave the house for days. I literally felt nauseous for a week and a half, until my grandpa graciously lent me the money to purchase a new camera and told me to pay him back when the time was right. Although I was so thankful and happy to be holding a camera again, I couldn't help but analyze the situation and think there was a reason for it all happening. I had thoughts like: "Do I even deserve a camera? Maybe this isn't what I am meant to do after all?".

I had the camera for over a week before seeing Lauren and deciding it was time to quit moping and actually use the damn thing. Lauren walked by me at a coffee / sandwich shop and I immediately fell in love with her curly hair. If ya can't have it, photograph it.  I wrote my information on a napkin as I mustered up the confidence to approach her. I was unreasonably nervous, like the first day of Public Speaking class (that I dropped right after class was dismissed). I never expected her to contact me, but she texted me a few hours later saying that she would love to work with me. I was shocked when she said she hadn't modeled before; hopefully these photos have convinced her to start. 

---