Sometimes when I sit down to write these blogs I have so much on my heart that I can't type it fast enough. Sometimes, like tonight at almost midnight, I don't have much to say. When that happens, I decide to turn these blogs into letters to my children and lessons they can take away from me in the future. It's fitting since this wedding is the wedding of a teacher. I know she would appreciate a good lesson to help others.
When I look at these photos I am beyond proud of them. To me, they are perfect. I'm proud of all I've learned and the enormous amount of growth I have seen in my work in such a short time. I say that with joy and not in boasting and here's why. I have been a photographer for over 20 years. Photography is not a career that requires a degree or any certification. In fact, anyone can go buy a camera and call themselves a photographer.
When I first started photographing weddings in 2003, I felt like I wasn't good enough. I wasn't where I wanted to be in my talent, professionalism and business knowledge. Truthfully, I felt like a fraud. Someone told me, "Fake it until you make it." I am here to tell you that is the WORST advice you can ever give or receive. If someone gives you that advice, run! Kids, if you are reading this do not fake it until you make it! I'm telling you now to take every moment you can and soak up all of the education you can possibly get. If you don't know the answer to something, find it. If you can't find it, ask someone who can help you find it. You have no excuse. When I started photography, I went to book stores and looked for books and magazines trying to learn. You can't image how slow that process is compared to now when everything is right at your finger tips through the internet, educational courses and online certifications. You don't have to fake anything and truthfully, if you try, you're probably only fooling yourself.
I use to have this dream before weddings. I'd be at the wedding, everything is going fine. The bride is about to walk down the isle with her Dad, which to me is one of the most pivotal and beautiful moments, most girls dream about on their wedding day. Everyone is about to see her for the first time. I move into the isle to start taking the photos and I look down in my hand to see one of those disposable cameras that you could buy from a store. (You young kids won't know anything about those but yes, there were small disposable cameras you could buy. They took the most dreadful photos EVER.) Anyway, I'm standing there mortified because I know I'm not equipped the way I should be for a wedding. I panic and start using it. As soon as I would start to use it, I'd wake up, relieved it was a dream and start immediately praying for the actual wedding that was about to take place.
I don't have that terrible dream anymore. I slept like a rock before the wedding, probably better than I sleep most nights. I had so much peace. I know I have put all of my heart and soul in to being the best I can be. I have taken every opportunity to learn and grow. You can never be done learning. I still have a list of things I want to learn in advanced photography, lighting and videography that I work on piece by piece.
My message is this. Be the BEST you that you can be. Don't fake anything. Learn all that you can and know that even when you have learned all you possibly think you can, there's still room to grow and be better. Soak up education like a sponge. Press through the pressure and anxiety and walk in complete confidence. You gain confidence through learning, which leads to knowledge and wisdom.
If you hear someone give the advice, fake it until you make it and you feel like that's your only option because you are new at something or because you are scared. Don't feel that way. Take a deep breath and draw on the confidence that Christ created you. He made you in His image and that's a good and perfect thing. Know that He will lead you and help you grow. Pray and ask for His help. He will be by your side as you work to accomplish your dreams. I mean... look at these beautiful photos. I look at them and think, Wow! God is good all the time. Just look at this bride walking down the isle.
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