Let me just say...I suck at this blogging thing! I had the intentions of making a blog post for each session and sharing a few images from each, but I got so crazy busy and between my full time job, being a mom, wife and photographer during the busiest photography season of the year, it just didn't happen...so I'm making it up right now! I want to take a minute (or five) to look back at this past year as well as share with you my vision & goals for the upcoming year, so grab a warm beverage & get cozy...
« Faith + Opportunities »
I stepped out in faith in October 2014 and officially became ashley t. photography...since then, I have been pleasantly surprised and humbled by my experience. I have learned so much not just about photography, but about myself, too. With each session, my passion for doing what I do, seems to be revealed to me stronger and stronger. I feel like there is no one else in the world who feels what I feel when behind the lens of my camera. This last year really has been a wonderful learning experience and an overall blessing. I have made mistakes, stepped out of my comfort zone, created some images that I am really proud of, discovered other photographers that inspire me & hopefully brought some inspiration to others. Once I started photographing others, my goal was not just to photograph people, but the relationships & connections between them; to thoroughly help capture the "real" in their lives...and my passion for that has only gotten stronger...But what I didn't expect was for a passion to develop for creativity, learning & growing as well. I am so excited to continue to help people document their life and help preserve their moments, as well as continue to test my creative limits and soak up all the information & inspiration I can get my hands on!
Along with with personal development & discovery, 2014 also included a new camera body...A beautiful Canon 6D. Before her, I shot with a Canon T3i. She was wonderful to me. She taught me so much about photography; most importantly that it's not about having the best & most expensive gear, but rather having passion & determination. I shot 90% of my 2014 sessions with her. I got some amazing photos that most people wouldn't know came from an entry level camera. Even if I had the option to start out my photography journey with a more advanced camera, I think I would have politely declined. There is so much satisfaction that comes with knowing you got a great shot without all the fancy gear. I had to work that camera to it's full potential and REALLY learn how to use it to get my images to be what I wanted. Of course at times it was frustrating, but nothing worth while is ever easy and because of that, I feel it has made me stronger in my photography...I did come to a point, however, where I was feeling limited because of my gear & I felt that my skills had out grown my camera...so that's when I knew it was time to upgrade. I am excited to test the limits of this new camera body and I hope one day I will have excelled so much in my skills that I will outgrow this one too.
It is awesome to look back at my work over the past year and see the improvements I have made. I am no where near where I want to be, but every time I pick up my camera, I get closer. It's such a fun journey and I love that photography has become a part of who I am.
« My Passion + My Goals »
I have thought a lot about what I want for myself as a photographer in 2015. I want to blog more, start & finish a 52 week photo project, plan for a few fun mini-sessions throughout the year and continue to be involved in my clients lives by helping them document their life story. I want to refine & improve my photography while creating my own path and style without limiting myself or staying confined to "my box." I want to take a no limits approach to each session and in my editing. Through all of this, I hope to see the beauty of life without even looking for it.
I say that I am living vicariously through my clients because I get photos of them that I wish I had of me with my kids...I'd definitely be jealous if I weren't so darn happy to be capturing those moments for them...hehehe. Here's a quick look at my beautiful 2014 clients...
When my daughter was born, we had beautiful, and I mean BEAUTIFUL, photos taken in sweet poses on pretty blankets with adorable little headbands...at the time that's what I thought I wanted. Well now, I look back and while I am thankful to have such gorgeous photos of her, what I don't have are the photos that really document our life during that time; the photos of her in our home, in her crib where she slept, on our couch where I nursed her, in our bed where my husband & I would just lay and stare at her, I don't have any photos of her on my chest, my favorite place for her to be...I didn't know at that time that's what I would want once those moments were gone. You can see where my passion comes from. I don't want ANYBODY to miss out on capturing & preserving those moments like I did. I don't want it to be too late when you realize that is what you want + that's what's important. I would go back in time if I could. Go back to those sleepless nights just to capture those moments...Go back through childbirth to have that time documented forever...
Ah, child birth...such an amazing thing. It is truly amazing how God made our bodies to create and carry another life...such a perfect and miraculous thing it is. I have yet to document a birth story, but I am praying for God to bless me with that opportunity this year. In addition to birth photography I am also praying for the Lord to open up a door in the area of food photography...I know those two don't exactly go hand-in-hand, but, remember my earlier goal of not setting limits for myself? :-)
Regardless of where my path leads, I'm going to continue to enjoy my journey and give thanks to God for the opportunity to be traveling it...
Now that I've included everything but the kitchen sink in this post, I think it makes up for my lack of blog posts this year! Cheers to 2015! Here's to goals, dreams, development & learning!
May God bless you throughout the new year!
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