Nothing can come of nothing. So leave the camera out!
I love how I'm supposed to be doing all these other things, and one thing leads to another and all of a sudden I'm working on baby books and digging thru old boxes filled with photos. (Focus Stephanie. Focus for once in your life.)
I've been 100% into photography for five years now. My earliest memories of photography is my Mother pregnant with my baby sister Shelley, and being in the darkroom processing nudes. She wasn't a professional. But boy did she have a talent. I remember everything being film and being raw and amazing. She shot lots of typical things, but lots of nudes which as a child I was of course so interested. She cross processed and I have a vague memory of seeing clouds on a woman's vagina.
Thanks for inspiring me Mom.
Wendy Laurel has also been one of my biggest inspirerers. (I know that's not a word. But you get it.) I'm sure you have heard me mention her name or have seen our work/children intertwined. She's my former sister in law who I lived next door to for ten years. We've raised our babies side by side. I saw her start taking amazing photos of her children, and I wanted to do the same. So she told me to go buy a DLSR camera (uh what????) and start shooting. Canon Rebel in hand and off shooting flowers I went. Wendy has given me TONS of amazing photographic advice. But the best I've EVER been given? Leave the camera out of the case. Leave it on the counter. And shoot. Shoot everything. Get on the ground and shoot up. Get on a chair and shoot down. Whatever you do, don't put that camera away in it's bag or case.
Why?
Because you'll miss the most important shots you'll ever take in your entire life.
Kids hugging. Lovers loving. Dogs smiling. An introvert laughing. Or maybe like the shot below which will be something I treasure forever, all because I took my camera to the pool.
Love you Mom and Gordon. And Happy Anniversary you lovebirds. 19 fab years!!!
And thank you Wendy. Thank you for teaching me how to never let a moment pass me by without having that camera ready to rock and roll. Because out of every shoot I've ever done, the ones that aren't planned are ALWAYS the best.
xoxo
"Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs. Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes. Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, a choking gall and a preserving sweet."
-William Shakespeare