My Blog

The other day it was raining so hard I decided I should pop my kids in the car and wait at the end of the driveway with them to make sure they didn’t get on the bus all soaked even before they got to school.   Living out in the country means long driveways which means when it rains you will get soaked if you have to wait for the bus.

As my two boys climbed out of the car there was a virtual “seasonal” stream at the end of our driveway.  The bus came and stopped.  My older son quickly jumped this stream of water while my youngest just stood there looking at it, almost paralyzed by the thought that surely he would get soaked if his little legs tried to cross it.  He just stood there while the bus waited.  My other son quickly noticed his dismay, scooped him up in his arms and lifted him over the stream and onto the bus they went.  I sat there for a moment as the bus went by.  I was happy to see my older son so willingly jump into action when he could see he was needed.  Yes these mom moments are small and fleeting, but they are profound to me.

I realized right then that there are so many of us, whether it’s work or personal related that are waiting for someone to help us jump the puddles in our lives, whatever they might be.  Some of us need more business and some of us have too much.    Some of us are trying to figure out how to balance work and family while some of us are still wanting to learn more technical aspects of photography like off camera flash.  And perhaps some of us know that we have a photographic voice but haven’t quite figured out how to share that with others.  Now I am just relating this to photography but this can be applied to any profession or aspect of our lives.  Hopefully all of us are seeking for ways to improve our skills and become better at what we do.  Just like my older son helping his younger brother, we too need assistance at times to become better and overcome the obstacles that seem to hold us back.  I am grateful to work in an industry where so many photographers willingly help out other photographers.  And where florists and event planners work to make such marvelous affairs come together seamlessly and in turn connect me to their couples so that I can be their storyteller.

Last night I had the pleasure of going to The Knot Mixer for D.C. put on by The Knot magazine and organized by Lauryn Prattes of Table 6 Productions.  It was great to be in a room of peers and make new connections and renew old acquaintances.  I had the pleasure of meeting two photographers that are veterans of the industry going on 30+ years in this business.  They were so positive and encouraging and meeting them helped me to see that anything is possible.  You can achieve your goals.  So if there’s something that you really want to do, something you have a passion for but haven’t quite figured it all out yet, don’t just stand there on the other side of the puddle.  Reach out to your peers and go after what you really want.  Let Ghandi be your inspiration who said: ““If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”

Gorgeous cake (iphone pic) by Bijoux Fine Cakes at the Knot Mixer