Why do I love what I do so much?

I have been reflecting lately on why I love photography so much and if it has become an obsession?  My husband will answer that question quickly, “YES!” I take my camera everywhere, on morning walks, evening walks, and to work, I just can't seem to leave it home.  In one of my photography classes a few years back my instructor asked the class "what makes a good photographer?" The class responded with several thoughtful answers, but the instructor came back with a simple yet powerful one, a camera. That answer has stuck with me ever since.  How many times I have said, "oh look at that picture, I wish I had my camera!" I hate that feeling!  So, I have invested in a high quality harness from the Cotton Carrier System, (these cameras are heavy) and off I go. Some days nothing inspires me, but then there is the one day that I get that one picture that moves me, and it makes up for the sore neck and all the odd looks I get. So yes, I answered my own question, it is an obsession, but it fills me up in a place that nothing else can. I am ok with that. Here are a few things to shed a little light into on my obsession. 

1.      Photography changes how you see things. You notice colors, textures, flowers, trees, people, shapes, and light in a way most people never see them. It is like walking through the world with glasses that make everything around you more vibrant and intense. 
2.      You pay more attention to the beauty around you. Even the most mundane object can become beautiful when you photograph it in a creative way. Many photographers love their job because they develop a fascination with the world around them by viewing it through new eyes.  My husband’s aunt, who I love dearly, laughed at me one day and said  "Jennifer your pictures are beautiful, but sometimes I just don't understand why you take a picture of a plant, or a door, I just don't see it."  And that is ok, she doesn't have to, sometimes what I see in my head does not translate to the viewer.  But they spent a little time wondering didn't they? 
3.      It's an amazing creative outlet. You get the chance to put a little bit of who you are into each photo that you take. Anyone can click a camera's buttons but not everyone can truly make a photo come to life. My favorite images tell a story, maybe a very simple story, but there is always one there. 
4.      It's a challenge. Creating amazing photos that capture the magic of everyday life doesn’t come without hard work, dedication, and imagination. There is always something new to explore and a new way to take the same photos. It’s a job that never gets boring. And you never stop learning and you never really master the craft. There is the camera, the lighting, the software, and the endless ways to create. For someone like me that has a hard time sitting still, give me a camera, or a book on photography and I can stay busy for hours. 
5.      You get to meet new people all the time. A photographer works with people from all walks of life. Getting to know someone new is a part of the process of bringing someone’s personality through in a photo. I get so nervous before a session; it is almost like stage fright. I run through all the things that could go wrong, but then I pick up my camera and look through the view finder, and it all just flows. When I start my editing process I always start from the end and work backwards. You can see where the session changed, the moment where the photographer and the subject started to fall into sync. I love that. 

When you decide to pay for a professional photo session, know that you are hiring an individual who is passionate about what they do and is willing to go the extra mile to help you create beautiful photos that you can treasure forever. Let’s work together to create a session that tells your story years later. 

Creating Moments - Capturing Memories. 

Below are a few shots from our weekend. They tell a story, a story of a beautiful bay and a dramatic sky. I call the first one "Judgement Call". We went out, came in, and went out again that day. The sky would look ominous one minute and calm and beautiful the next. My goal was to watch the sunset behind the Thomas Point Lighthouse, but mother nature made good on her threats of the day, and we had to head in.