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Lesson Info

Finding Your Passion

passion. Let's talk a little bit about working a job that also is like What keeps you up at night and what you're super excited about? What feed the soul and it fulfills things that, like most jobs, like when you think of the job, it's, you know, the paychecks, getting your work done on time, you know, fulfilling, fulfilling the to do list that someone has handed you. The great thing about what we do is it supersedes all of those things. And you don't need any other reason besides the fact that I absolutely love doing what you're doing, and that's like enough to make you get out and do it. Um, the great thing about that two is it makes you actually seek out challenges and seek out harder things to do. Whereas I know normally that's goes against the grain of what we do. Normally, you know, you're just trying to get done. Wouldn't get done. You do your little check marks good to go. And I know in my work I'm always like, Okay, I did this last time. What if next time, like I'm always push...

ing that you know that next place and that's just something that we're so lucky to have in the job that we have that we get toe feed off that soul and that natural adrenaline rush. So, um, yeah, just toe. Be able to acknowledge that and make sure that you're keeping You're keeping your work all about that. And it also, you know, it makes you enjoy the process more. And I also think it can make you. We were talking a little bit this morning before class started about mentors and finding people that you know could help take you on your path. And I think when you start to live your passion, you become like a natural mentor. You become like this leader because it's this energy that everybody gravitates to like. You know, when you're with someone loving what they're doing and so excited about it, it naturally makes people want to be like, what? Let's do it and so you can start creating, you know, this little tribe and that's one of the questions that was on our posterboard. Journaling was like, Who's your tribe? And I think living this life that is coming from the Passion Point is going to naturally bring this amazing tribe. Just like I can show. You know, the people that have been upon the screen? Yes. You know, depressed Ray yesterday and today they're people like that cute human in my life because we're also passionate about what we do. And it's just amazing resource of having these people that feed off of and get excited with. So I think there's something to be said for being a leader in your own life and just following that, that thing here, um, I kind of wanted to turn to the audience if you guys don't mind. What? You didn't tell me this, but, um, actually, three of you have already kind of done it, but Teoh on your on your boards and in your journaling, but to just kind of think about that. Who is that person that when you're super excited, like you get an idea for a shoot or you, you know, get that shot and you just like, who is that person that you first turned Teoh? And what's the reaction like, What is it in their reaction that makes them your person? Any of you have anybody like that that you can actually call up my friend sitting next to me. Oh, so she is my person that totally gets. I mean, photographers know when you're talking other photographers, you kind of go into photographer mode and you get super excited about things that other people just don't quite get. They try, but they just don't get it. The great thing about having Jen as my friend tour, which I'll touch on my board a little bit later, my friend first and mentor is that I have a friend, a friend, first mentor second. But yes, she is the person that I tell anything photographically interesting. Teoh, if I have an idea and more importantly, we share images with each other from most recent shoots. And what I love with our relationship were good in a friend that we really do give feedback good and bad. And they're not too many other people in the world that I'd be willing to really openly take that. And okay, I'm okay with you telling me this is the lighting's awful or something like that. But being able to have an outlet like that is incredible. And this is my friend tour. I feel that way. We're gonna be Oh, no. But that's and so, like when you think it can you now take her out of the equation? I can see. And that's what I can't imagine being where I'm out without without my people, you know what I mean? And these everybody like all these people along the way, being that, you know, being that source of keeping it feet. And you have to be conscious enough and want it bad enough yourself to find those people, cause some of us seek out people that or maybe not speak out but allow people in our lives that are constantly like or we had touched on a little bit, maybe other photographers, that they just try to get those little digs in to let you know that you know they're still there, still here and you're still here. So just to be conscious conscious enough about when you pick when you're picking your people, your your friend tours that they're people that make you feel like that, like just hearing the energy and seeing a guy that smile back and forth like That's what you want in your life. And that's what's so great about what we do is we get to pick the people we work with. Like what other job can you think of that? You get hired into that, you get to pick the person that sits next to you. You don't so take advantage of that like don't let it. You know, Don't let it just be chosen for you or just go with the flow. Like because there so many I with all the, you know, workshops and mentoring. I do. I've had hundreds of people come through, and there's so many amazing people out there like that are seeking that exact same thing. And I think, Ah, lot of us because of, like Facebook. And we're just seeing like, these posts of everything so great. Look at this amazing shoot I had I'm so excited for, like, everybody thinks everything's great. And they don't realize that people do need that connection and any people that reach out and have support and other people to be excited for them. So good example, did he really have example that you wanted toe before I go into the next one? I could add that, um, you know, since you know, being a mom and I worked a 9 to 5 full time. I don't get a lot of time to socialize. So I have made such great connections through Facebook and Instagram of other photographers, especially here in Seattle. There are so many really supportive photographers. Nobody's competitive. I mean, I'm sure there are some people that are competitive, but the people I've met have been very, very giving and very open and very helpful in so many ways. And I think that even if you can't get out a lot and you don't have a lot of free time that don't be afraid to make connections online and they can be just as valuable injustice realize one on one friendships. I'm sure you've met many people, well, everybody that they're all escaping in because they all live across the country, right. But they're all still like amazing people that, like, you know, I talked to and then uses that Yeah, we're so lucky in the standings tohave that were, you know, it's 11 o'clock at night and you compose jump in the like messaging and Facebook and you know, and you're usually all of editing s exactly exactly on. I think Teoh, a lot of that openness comes from like I could just tell this is the first time I met you is you being here? But, like I can just tell by how you talk. You're in open, like I can tell there's not this edge of oh, your photographer to like and I think coming at it from that I think that's why you're attracting those kind of people to, because they don't sense that you're trying to get anything out of them. But being their support just as much as you want, you know, it's a give and take and so yeah, no, I think that's a great a great example of yeah, where social media can be a huge, huge help. Um, so I wanted to talk. So I touched on a little bit, like showing little bits of, you know when we're showing the images, little bits of inspiration that I used for the the pictures that I shot, but I kind of wanted to talk about like inspiration is the spine. It's You can't always see it like it holds us all upright, and obviously we all have one and it's in there. But you don't you don't see it. It's It's so I don't think that it always has to be something that, like, is necessarily a prop or, um, yeah, I got brought a nice little song this morning that, you know, she came in and she was like, the song totally made me think of you. And that's like I as it was playing in my ears. I was like, Oh, yeah, I could totally think of doing a shoot based on you know, these lyrics or even the melodies. And no one would ever know when you came out the other, like when I did the shoot, they wouldn't know it was based off a cerebral a song. Um so I think that's important, too, is to realize that it doesn't have to be like a proper buying or, you know, an item that you're putting on the child. An item that you're it can be really any so much of what we shoot is emotion, so anything that brings you that emotion I always try and like to that emotion, I always try to put like a color or feeling or you know something like that. And that translates into an image and that's how I create the imagery. So I just kind of wanted to touch on that, that I didn't want everyone to think like the inspiration has to be like, Oh, I found this. So let's treat this so I was gonna kind of share. This is a perfect example of that Terms that bring visual images to your head. I don't We I think we were talking about something. Somebody said something about smoke and mirrors and instantly I was like, when that they're really cool Shoot like to have all these mirrors and like, smoke coming up through it in the reflection and that and so that in my head it all just starts like immune. And but the great thing about this, like on top of it, was collaborating with someone else. So I brought this idea and I was like, OK, so I'm thinking like, ah, fog machine and little bits of mirrors because I didn't want it like mirrors reflecting the girls. I wanted it, you know, just array of things sparkling. And I was thinking What? We're gonna need lights in there. So we hung that. But when I went to her, who came adage. Kim Adams. She made these gorgeous dresses out of, like, goodwill tablecloths. She's ridiculously talented. Um, she took it a step farther and you see that she took the mirrors and a crown. And then she made that necklace, which I don't recommend that for anybody under the age of 12 because I cook. I call that my zombie protection necklace because you could just use it. Oh, very sharp, very dangerous. So I do not recommend this. I'm going to say, Don't do this at home. But it's a perfect example of we're just, like, letting yourself just daydream and ponder on smoke and mirrors. Where does that come from? And individuals that it entails, and then being able to talk it out with someone else and bring it all to, you know, all to fruition. Um, this one ah friend had post. I think she posted this quote. It might have been on Pinterest, um, and forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. I was like, Oh, what a beautiful quote. And it instantly made me think of like the beach and sand blowing and, you know, our stand blowing when the blind That would not be good to know Sam willing, but no, Just like, you know, sandy toes. And so I just grabbed thistles, actually, my hairstylist daughter and it was like towards the end of summer. So I knew, like, that feeling was going to start going away because where we live once fall hits, you're pretty much done with sun until the next June. Um, so it was like the feeling that I got when I read that quote, I was like, I want to hold that feeling because at the time it was still funny and it was still a time when you would have your, you know, shoes off at the beach. And so I just wanted to capture that before the summer end. And so I think we did this, like in September. So here and sometime were beautiful light when they sent the son starting at lower in the sky. But it's still it's just really pretty. So that's another place that it just you know, I just It was a quote on Pinterest, nothing more. And in my inspiration bowlers, I have a whole folder just on words that like whether it's poems, quotes one word like I keep words because they're so inspirational to me. Um, so this is kind of a funny story. Um, I was doing our Christmas card. I love you, but I was trying to plan our Christmas cards, and I usually try and do something pretty cute and unique or whatever, just because it's the only time I really send out pictures to anyone. And I was trying to think Like what? Like what I'm gonna do this year when we gonna do well, Yes, I do have disco balls in my house. And the way the light was hitting the disco ball on the wall, I was like, Well, that's kind of like Christmas Lights and I guess that could look like Flakes of Snow twosome. I started, like thinking, and that would be kind of cute toe like incorporate, like do a little disco vibe. So then I was on Pinterest, and there was a I think it was like a picture of a street and there was a marquee. If I remember correctly, I might be told Oh, no use graffiti. I might have been graffiti and it said, I love you, but I've chosen disco and I was like, That is so so me like Okay, my poor husband has to live in a house with disco balls. Uh, so just within the studio brought in. I did rent. I don't have this many disco balls in my house. It's not that crazy. But I went to, like, you know, the party venues Sein win and, like, rented. Um, you know, they're basically, like a wedding set up like s or like a party set up. So I rented, like, the light that you shine, and I rented, like, several more disco balls and then brought in all the things now and it turned. It was cute, like I felt like it totally rude represented who we are. And it was all just based off of, you know, sitting in my house and wondering what the heck I should be doing. Do you have any questions? So we do have a couple questions. Folks in the chat rooms are just going crazy over friend tours that you guys totally started something last year, Lane says. What's the best way when you're just starting out How do you find those mentors? I find a lot of a photographer there, too competitive and not willing to share any ideas and advice for that. Yeah. So I think most if you're in a bigger city or near bigger City, I think most of them do have organizations, uh, photography organizations that you probably just find through. I know I had someone yesterday on Facebook. Ask about our local P p A or P Pio and just send them the link. Um, I think to me a lot in how you approach other photographers when you are reaching out is key. Um, you'll have just for me personally. A someone reaches out to me, and it's very like, Oh, I love what you do. You're so inspiring. I love you know, if you're ever in my town, let's do coffee or some think it's a friendly like that. They actually care about who I am. Then I am more than willing to answer a few questions and go to coffee and do those things. But if you're approaching someone like with, you know, you get email on the open, it's like, Hi, Shannon. I have questions. One. What kind of camera cheese to where was that location in a three. Did it? I'm not a closed off person, but that instantly closes me off like I'm just not going. It's kind of like, Oh, how are you? I But I think just being genuine in your and like you were saying, like if you're on Instagram, if you're on Facebook, start off. You know, if you think that you're connecting with someone like you, like their work and you can tell by the way that they're, you know, talking on Facebook and instagram that, you know, I think we might have some stuff in common, like they seem like they would be a personality that I would die with, start slowly, like to start commenting on their Facebook, or maybe throw in a little private message that lets them know, You know, I really appreciate what you're doing, and I, you know, and I think eventually more people not are good people that want to surround themselves with, you know, like people. And so I think it's just a matter of not being afraid not to get that message back. Just blame it on Facebook. There's that stupid others messages. But I never remember is there and I think I check it once a year so they don't answer you back. It's not because they didn't want to connect. It's just because it got thrown into the others. But, yeah, so that would be my. I think it's just it's like how you make friends or get it would be like a five year old on a playground. Just walk up and say, Do you want to? My friend? That's why I love kids will just ask you eso Machito would like to know. Do you do personal shoots for yourself all the time? Yeah, yeah, I dio Like I said, Well, dreamer is a huge avenue for me to do that because I get a perfect excuse four times a year, Did you? Just for that? But like I said, I do it for Christmas. Our Christmas cards is one big one every year that I make sure that I take time for which is getting more difficult now that I have a 14 year old 11 year old. He's not so like excited about that. Um, but yeah, I would say at least once a month I'm getting out there and doing something. That's just something I need to dio. And, um, I just want to make happen. Yeah, great. Thanks. Second, any whales have any questions for a move onto the next thing, This one was a fun, fun shoot. The little crown that she's wearing was actually a photographer. Started a collaboration and got this crown and basically there. I think there was either 10 or 15 of us that she contacted and was like each of us got the crown. It was like a handing off the baton that we would receive it and then send it to the next person. Senate's the next person, which would be really fun to like if you're trying to create that kind of community of, um, photographers, but so this was really fun because it was one of those things were like, Okay, I know there's like, 10 other amazing photographers that I'm gonna have to showcase my work with. So it was just a matter of trying to, like, make it a little bit me. So, like I added like little flowers to crown, But so when I saw the current, I'm not a very like Princess Tea Party type shooters. So for me, it was a little more like trying to get outside my box. I knew that I wanted her to be like Queen of the Forest because we live. This is our back yard. Basically, it's our little result. And so I knew I wanted to shoot in there, but I wanted it to be a little more about, like, I wanted animals in it and I couldn't figure out how I would entice the animals to actually come and stick around. So silly me. I thought, Oh, I'll just build a deer out of moths, right? Because I'll be super easy. Not easy. I just used chicken wire, which I don't know if anybody's ever worked with chicken wire is basically the most horrible thing ever. It was like worlds this tall and I'm trying to like, undo it and make little legs. And next I look like I got into a bar fight in a BlackBerry bush like it was, I had scratches up my arm up my legs like chicken wire took me out, but it was really but it was the best part. Bo was walking cause it's all hiking trails through there. Like it the lake in like so tons of people are taking the best parts walking through biking trails with a mosque here that you know how many people I asked me. Did you make that? Did you bring that? No. They just grow here in the forehead. Yeah, so that was That was fun. But it's just a matter of, you know, taking that idea. And I could have just gone out in the forest with the crown like it would have been easy and it would have been pretty portrait. But that's I guess that's what I'm saying when you're working from that point of passion, like you're like, OK, what can I do to push it? What can I do to add that extra thing? And that's why I'm absolutely I'm so excited about what we do. And I get so excited like having other photographers around and pushing them, because I just want everybody to realize what a great place that we're in, like, how cool is it that we can do this and you get money for it and you get to do all these fun things and Carrie mouth tears around. It's just it's just amazing