End of the Year Reflections
Thank you for supporting my photography passion and following along this journey in 2014. Like most years, life brings its ups and downs, but I definitely feel blessed and I'm grateful for all the experiences. Since it's the last day of 2014, I wanted to reflect on some of my photography memories from this past year.First of all, thank you to all my clients who worked with me. It is truly an honor and privilege to document your special memories. Your engagement and wedding day are moments that you'll look back on years from now, and it's been a thrill to be part of your experience. While there is always an element of the unexpected when shooting these events, your courtesy, great smiles, and rapport made my job much easier. There were even times when it hardly felt like a job at all. Some of my clients in 2014 were from referrals (thank you!) and some simply found me online. Either way, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to take your photos!Photography this past year has been a success, in my opinion, but I couldn't have done it without the support of friends and family. I appreciate you for following my projects and helping to spread the word.
Top 3 Things I've Learned
1. Continue to Master Your Craft - I feel like you can apply this concept to anything, not just photography. There were moments were I thought my photos were pretty good...and it's easy to then feel that I'm "there." That somehow I've mastered lighting, composition, post-processing, etc. The reality is, I've realized that photography is a continual process of refinement. As amazing as a project turned out, the same dedication, energy, and passion needs to be poured into your very next shoot. There is always more to learn. Continue to read, research, and reflect. Never stay complacent and always stay hungry.
2. Develop Your Style - The key word here is "develop." I think there is a huge difference in "creating" vs. "developing" a style. In my opinion, it's not necessary to try and create a style because your style is innate. Slowly but surely, how you like to shoot and process will come out as you continue to take pictures. There isn't a need to try and replicate or to imitate another photographer's style just for the sake of doing so. Find out what you like to shoot and how you like to capture it. As you continue to progress, your style will then develop. Clients who are attracted to that style will naturally reach out to you.
3. Go Back to the Basics - Personal Projects - There were times where I felt burnt out from constantly editing and shooting. What I found was by going back to the basics, it allowed me to rediscover why I fell in love with photography in the first place. For me, this means going out and just taking pictures of whatever in my own time. I enjoy taking wedding photos, but there's also a sense of renewed creativity and passion when taking pictures of my family or setting up a tripod and waiting for the city lights in Seattle to burst through after sunset. Go for a walk with your camera. Take a stroll through nature. Most importantly, have fun.Thank you once again and I look forward to 2015 for more exciting projects to share with you. Happy New Year!
