Revelations and Moments 180-185 |

180. Even though he is so sad, I still smile when I see this picture. He’s just so cute.

I’ve had several revelations, in the last couple of months, about my photography, that have really led to me enjoying my camera more and to me taking a lot more photos of my children. The first revelation I had, came after I read a series of blog posts by photographer, and BFF Amy’s sister, Tammy Smith, about finding your creative voice and about taking images that really inspire you. I realized from her posts, that the images I really enjoyed taking were candid, everyday, honest images of real life and not posed, staged images. I love telling a story with the pictures I take and I love to be able to show the connections and love that family members feel for each other in candid everyday moments. Truth be told, I’ve known for a long time that candid photos are my favorite, but reading Tammy’s posts I finally felt justified in my likes and dislikes and I felt like I had the permission now to pursue what it was I really loved. I think before I felt like being a photographer meant that I needed to take posed pictures, of dressed up people, in fabulous outdoor locations, and all this done in glorious light, and there’s nothing wrong with those kind of pictures. We all want a picture like that to hang on out living room wall, but those just aren’t what inspire me. This led to my second revelation.

I live in Alaska, and 9 months out of the year I have terrible light, and can’t go outside to any location. I realized one day that I don’t live in Florida, (or insert any warm state here with glorious weather and light 12 months of the year) so I just need to get over it already and get my camera out even if I don’t have what I think are ideal circumstances. I have to make do with what I have. So my pictures are going to be more grainy than other peoples, oh well. This is me, working with what I have. My pictures and my voice are going to be unique, and I want it to be that way anyway.

Which leads me to my third, and final, revelation. I need to take more pictures of my children to tell our story, and if I like the pictures I take, that is all that counts. It doesn’t matter if everything is technically correct, or that anyone else likes it. As long as I am getting my camera out, and I’m happy doing it, that’s what matters.

By letting go of all my preconceived notions of what photography has to be, it has let me enjoy using my camera, given me the confidence to try new things, and has allowed me to find so much more joy in photographing my children.

Now, with that all said, here are a few of my favorite pictures over the past couple of weeks with the people that inspire me the most. They tell a bit of our story. and they bring me joy.