Becoming a Photographer: Inspiration

As I get closer to taking classes, I have been consumed with thinking about what kind of a photographer I want to be. I have perused blog after blog and web site after web site. There are soooo many that inspire me!

1) bobbi+mike. My favorite. Hands down. Seeing Bobbi’s work is what inspired me to take this step toward becoming a photographer in the first place. She and Mike’s work is vibrant, fun, edgy and unique. AND she’s a fellow Sycamore!!

2) Jessica Claire. I covet one of her Shootsac bags. However, I’ve resolved not to get one until I’m a true photographer (and until I have a camera…I wouldn’t have any use for it until then, and they’re too pretty to just be left sitting around). But I truly love her work. It’s always so crisp and looks like it came straight from a magazine. And, she definitely knows how to capture those details. I love that she’s so driven, too. She sets goals (one of which was design a new product, and voila, we have the Shootsac!) and works hard to achieve those goals.

3) I just stumbled upon Jasmine Star. All I can say is, Wow. Her work truly takes my breath away. She not only has a true sense of capturing a moment with photos, but also with words. She always includes a little story with each couple she photographs. I feel as if I’m right there with her subjects, feeling what they are feeling. And, she’s a Christian and publicly professes her faith on her blog and Web site. Love that!

4) Anne Ruthmann. I truly love that she strives to make her business green. She also likes to help others make their businesses better. She does both by blogging about her efforts, tips and experiences. One of the ways she decided to help other photographers is by offering to include them as a second shooter at one of her many weddings (she was booked for 2008 before 2007 was even over!). I emailed her about it, and I hope that I’m advanced enough to accompany her sometime in May or later. I can’t tell you how excited I am about the possibility of doing that. Her work is definitely something I strive to emulate!!

5) Me Ra Koh. She used to be a writer (like me) but found healing through photography. After seeing Me Ra’s photography of her kids, friends started asking her to take photos for them. It took off from there and now she’s one of the very best in the business. Best of all? She gets to watch her kiddos grow up since she’s at home with them instead of in an office all day. I would love, love, love to be able to do that one day.

Each of these five women encompasses a little part of what I want to be as a photographer. They have talent, business know-how, giving hearts and great personalities. Just thought I’d share these five photographers who get my creative juices flowing each day when I check in on their photography blogs.

 

My New Year’s Resolutions – A Day Late

Taking inspiration from the people in my Courier & Press story, I’ve decided to make some resolutions of my own.

1) Be more green. While I already have a fuel-efficient vehicle (I absolutely love my trusty Toyota Corolla S), use energy-saving light bulbs, wash clothes in cold water and reuse bottles for our water, I really believe there is more I can do to help the environment. I’m no tree hugger, but if I can do even a little bit to save our earth, why not? Therefore, I resolve to try to save all of our cans to help with the Habitat for Humanity can collection (they recycle the cans AND get money for it…killing two birds with one stone!). I also plan on taking my own bags when I go grocery shopping. Any other suggestions?

2) Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. So far so good. Even with the frigid cold weather we just got, I was able to find a workout yesterday to do inside (thanks, Billy Blanks Tae Bo Cardio DVD). I also just got a resistance band from Target for $2.50, so even if I can’t get out to run, I can at least do crunches, push ups and some resistance training. Tonight, I’m hitting the treadmill downstairs at work.

3) Eat fewer sweets. I believe this was a resolution last year, and I did pretty good until Thanksgiving time and on. Even last night, I had 3 chocolate chip cookies after dinner. Not because I was hungry, but because they looked good. I need to learn to pay more attention to how I feel before I take a bite…am I really hungry, or is my brain tricking me?

4) Learn how to use a digital SLR camera and become really, really good at it. I’m taking two classes at Ivy Tech starting Jan. 14, so that will be the first step. This will require a lot of practice and patience on my part, but I’m really excited about it. I already stalk several blogs for daily inspiration. After I tackle the basics, I plan on doing a maternity shoot with my sister in law and eventually would like to take on a wedding.

5) Get to work earlier. While I technically don’t have to be at work until 9, it does look better if I would get there by 8. So, I’m going to work on getting out of bed when my alarm actually goes off and getting out the door no later than 7:30. This may require packing lunch and ironing clothes the night before, but I can handle that.

6) Focus more on my marriage. Some issues I have to deal with are trust, communication and time management. I’d really like to make more quality time for us doing FUN stuff instead of the daily “work” that comes with being married and owning a home.

These are my main goals, and I think each one is definitely attainable.