How do I even start this blog? How do I put ten years of thoughts and experiences into a single paragraph? I feel as though I am still processing (photo nerd pun?) the fact that I have been actively shooting for ten years. Last year, I sat stunned as I read Deena’s post on Facebook celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary. And still a year later, I am still sitting here stunned. Ha, but maybe I should stop using that word, perhaps boggled or flummoxed is better. There really isn’t anything that can describe how I feel, the huge amount of pride and joy that I feel for making it this far, for continuing on a path that really and truly, I believe, is what I am meant to do. The road here hasn’t been easy, but I try my best to live a life with no regret. I make mistakes like everyone else and cry.scream.react easily when it happens, but I recover just as fast and am always looking for the lesson. What is it that I can learn from this, why have I been shown this or experienced that, what can I do better. Though it was hard sometimes, I always had a path to follow and it still amazes me today at how whenever I felt doubt, something uncanny would happen. It was almost as if the universe was urging me to keep going.
I’ve come a long way since that first wedding. I still remember the nerves, to the point where I don’t think I slept for two weeks prior. I remember printing off poses I liked so I could keep them in my bag and I remember trying to plan what I was going to do, at every single interval. It was exhausting, but in those moments of capturing real people and their real emotion, I knew I had found my path. I am a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design and during those post-secondary years, I dappled in a little fashion photography. I thought it was exciting, I loved saying that I was going to be a fashion photographer. It sounded impressive. Looking back, I’m not even sure who that person was, because truly the fashion and commercial industry is so far from who I actually am today. My soul and spirit could not have survived in that industry. Not at all. For some reason, I still get asked whether I want to do anything else, which is usually code for “why don’t you want to be a famous fashion or commercial photographer.” And my answer always lies with the people. People are my passion. Real people. Real relationships. I get so much pleasure from taking someone who is nervous/anxious/terrified and steadfast in his/her belief of being unphotogenic, and guiding them through a shoot, and seeing that ‘click’ where they feel comfortable and at ease and actually start to have fun.
My photography has taken me overseas and over borders and across this glorious country and I have met the most incredible people. I often sit at my desk working, smiling stupidly for no other reason than I am smiling back at all the happiness. That happiness absolutely filters into my life, my psyche, and I am forever grateful. I love that I have slowly learned how to run a (successful) business and for me that means acknowledging my strengths and leaving my weaknesses to the pros: Hire a bookkeeper. Hire an office organizer. Hire a computer tech. Hire a cleaning service. And I’ve learned a lot more and thought I might share it here. I’m not sure I’m done with this list, so I think I’m going to just start with this and add on as I think of it.
Here are 7 things every new wedding photographer should know:
Be prepared to wait five years. Success doesn’t happen in a year. Or even two. You might have to work at your job longer or get a retail gig. It doesn’t mean that you’ve failed or are failing. It just takes time.
Unfollow photographers that don’t make you feel good. I think social media portrays a glossy, beautiful world where everyone is amazing.
Find like-minded colleagues in your city and build a support system. Find your people and invest in that trust so that when your world isn’t shiny and amazing, you have people around you who know exactly what you’re going through.
Back up your work. Don’t ever shoot a wedding without a second camera. Manage your risks and reduce it all. Stress from this job is mostly from risk; reduce the ‘what ifs’ and you reduce your stress significantly.
Getting rejected hurts. It never gets easier. But that’s ok because it means you care and caring is good.
Be you. The more “you” you are, the more you will attract the type of people you want to work with.
Shoot with people you admire. You can only learn so much from the internet. I never second shot in the beginning, I actually didn’t know it was a thing. It IS a thing. And I highly recommend it.
And so, now I’d love to re-introduce you to Deena and Cody and their two beautiful children. I am re-congratulating them on a wonderful 10th wedding anniversary and I cannot say enough how grateful I am that they took a chance on a young art student. It’s been a heck of an awesome ride and I am excited for the next ten years and beyond. Enjoy!
