Every once is awhile I find that I need to clear my head and remember why I love photography. It is so easy to bogged down with editing, marketing, more editing, shooting…moving from one project to the next to the next. It can sometimes feel like you are in a hamster wheel and you never really get to move forward. And every client always has their own ideas about what they would like for their photo sessions…not that that is a bad thing, but sometimes you don’t get to be as creative as you would like. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut. To go through the motions and just get the job done. I always wonder how many photographers talk about how much they love what they do, but actually are frustrated and feel trapped. In our business, or any business I guess, we need to keep the appearance that we are successful, highly desirable, that we are constantly booking and that we are blissfully happy with our chosen profession. If you have ever read my about page on this site, then you know that photography chose me and no the other way around. I had to make the conscious to KEEP doing photography…and in order to keep doing it, I had to find a way to REALLY enjoy it again.
Part of that process was asking Shannon, a long time client/friend, if she would be willing to help me out with a couple of concept shoots. I am not saying that they are the best thing I have ever done, or that the concepts were original or even good. But what it did for me was spark my interest and got my creative juices flowing which in turn helped me with a bunch more shoots that had been lined up within the same time frame. I believe that clientele can feel when you are invested in them or not. I have been going through the motions for awhile because I was getting burned out. You can only keep pace as a photographer for so long before sheer fatigue will stop you whether you want it to or not. So stepping back and taking time to plan and execute something that has nothing to do with what a client would want, but something I have always wanted to do gives me motivation, energy and creativity to give back to my clients. It gets those thoughts and ideas flowing and brings a good vibe to my work.
So, here are some images that were my favorites from Shannon’s sessions. I think she rocked. I was so grateful for her willingness to stand in the heat and bear the bugs…she was a trooper.
