11/18/2022
TRANSPARENT POST ALERT:
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
—Theodore Roosevelt
So, I've had people ask me "where have you been?", "why no previews?" "Are you still shooting?" The answer is YES I'm still shooting! Crazier than ever just not posting for a bit...Last year about this time I realized I was scrolling and comparing myself with others. Going down that rabbit hole was not good for me...their photos, their light, their studios, their clients...when scrolling and looking one may start to feel deficient. One is subconsciously comparing to see how far they are, wondering if they will ever make it to their idols' level and increasing their doubts. With photography the eye is in the beholder and everyone is creative in different ways. I haven't said that this kind of scrolling has stopped for me completely, but I realized a few months ago when talking to a client that I LOVE my job. I love people, babies, dogs etc...The comparison game—or war—is as old as humanity. I realized by not posting my previews of my clients that I wasn't only taking that excitement from them, but that was a way I could look back and improve my skill and just relive that joy I got from that session! Clients will inevitably go to another person to get their pictures taken and that is ok! I needed to talk myself into the fact that this isn't personal. It's not a reflection on my own character or skill. It's something that happens in life...as human beings we are never satisfied so we search for that thing. Let's face it not everyone wants their family photos posted, I've definitely had families tell me they don't want me to post which is ok too! In the days of social media we can start with this comparison game and it can get pretty ugly and stressful to try to keep up with everyone else. This post is about the "you being you" concept. I almost always regret it when I let my guard down and start scrolling. I’ll inevitably see something that makes me feel bad about myself or job, or something else that makes me feel envious, that I’m missing something from my life that others have (something I probably wasn't even thinking of until I saw it). No one is perfect. I want to raise my children with this mindset because the pressure to be perfect is overwhelming. It is OK to be flawed but to do your best in whatever it is. Don't think everything you see on facebook or instagram or social media posts are perfect. I still think comparison, or observation, may be a tool for improvement and inspiration. But it is a double-edged sword. SO, with that said I'm going to start posting some, not all of my sessions again only because I really love hearing the joy I give people by documenting their memories for them. I LOVE reliving those smiles and quirky faces and laughs. I'm going to try to recommit myself to being deeply grateful for what’s good in my life and remind myself of it daily! Thank you to my clients that have hung around with me for what has been almost 15 years! Most importantly...YOU do YOU and try not to feel the stress of being perfect in any way but do your best always!! Instead of the pictures being perfect, let them be perfectly YOU!
First up is this little girl that I have looked at since she was 3! Fadra took care of Alexandra when I went back to teaching for 3 months almost 16 years ago and boy she was a lifesaver! She reassured me and indulged me with pictures and videos of the fact that I wasn't missing much at that 3 month old stage! haha Dakota was always this sweet little girl that would love on Alexandra! Isn't she gorgeous?! Time is such a thief but look at this girl...such a wonderful, kind human that Fadra and Tom have raised and is getting ready to make her mark on life. Thank you Fadra for letting me give back a memory for you as you have made some pretty sweet ones with my kiddos! Dakota, I had SO much fun making your Senior shoot the most memorable for you!! I hope you LOVE all of these images! FFadra Fahey Birdsell Tom Birdsell
More to come!!!
