Photography for Life
There is Just One You
Not that long ago I decided to take a long, hard look, and clearly define my goals as a photographer. I had taken a year away from my tender young business… with no marketing and very little posting on social media (because truthfully, it’s just not my bag! Yikes, did I say that out loud?!?) I continued to shoot weddings and engagements for family and friends, and a few other clients, but the time had come to make some decisions. Either I was going to overcome the challenges I was facing, or sell my gear and let it all go.
About that time, I discovered an online class for photographers about lighting.
Now lighting, in the photography world, is a pretty big deal. If you don’t know how to handle it correctly with your equipment and the way you address it in composing your images, it will make or break you as a professional. If you don’t get it right, you will always stay in the “WANNABE” category of photographers who advertise discount sessions on local Facebook groups and can never really work full-time doing that creative thing they love in a serious way. So… I decided to check it out.
During the process of learning TONS about lighting, I was reminded of something that I already knew. Something so simple, and yet so epic. It has become a foundational principle in all that I do, personally and professionally. It is part of my daily compass in so many ways.
Are you ready for it? Have I built up enough suspense? Okay. Here goes…
“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
Seriously, Tina? Yes. Let that sink in. In a tumultuous sea of photographers, all rowing their little boats, and trying to stay afloat in shark-infested waters, that little sentence has become an anchor for me.
You see, as photographers, there are MULTITUDES of things we CAN do.
Technology and the advancement of “Hollywood” images invade our sub-conscious on every level from a very young age. They create unrealistic ideas about what beauty is, how it looks, and ultimately how we feel about ourselves and how we measure up. As photographers, we can erase braces, buff out blemishes, roll back the years, peel off some pounds, and totally eliminate people. (Not all bad, right?)
On top of all that, we can transport you from our studios to the Sahara Desert, from the weeds in your backyard to the waters of the Caribbean, or from the simple reality of daily routine to the rugged Alps in Switzerland…all through the help of technology.
We can create environments that resemble a dream of who we would wish to be, without reflecting the substance of who we are. And that’s the part of technology that is so sad, because…
“There is just one you.”
You were created with a destiny and a purpose, and your personality and your life story are unique. The real you. Your unique (non-Hollywood) personality. Your true story. My vision as photographer, and as a sojourner through this life, is to serve my clients in a way that is clean. In a way that is authentic. And in a way that is timeless. And what I mean is this…
Clean. This encompasses both a heart to honor your time, your investment, and your decisions, as well a commitment to produce beautiful and professional products that are free of heavy filters and excessive enhancements that sometimes create a surreal feeling. Images that are soft and clean. Sometimes muted, sometimes vibrant, but always beautifully and believably you. And true to your story.
Authentic. Capturing the authentic interactions and the real you are so important to me. While I do incorporate some basic posing instruction, (because honestly, we can all get nervous in front of the camera, right?) I also incorporate lots of real time interaction between my clients. Sincere, candid interaction between people that love each other has no substitute! And neither does the silly chemistry of a great group of girl-friends in the bridal suite on a wedding day! (Just for an example. 😉) Whatever the circumstance, whatever the vision, it’s my absolute joy to capture images that remind you of this season in your history; what you felt, maybe even sometimes what you’ve learned since then, and always what is really most important in life.
Timeless. There are certain types of portraiture that will last for generations. Portraits that may be so simple, yet silently speak volumes for those that pause to listen. Photos that are endearing. Enduring. Classic.
I would be honored to serve you by preserving priceless moments of your journey in precious ways that will never go out of style.
~ Tina
