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Lesson Info

What's the Secret

really quickly this morning. I didn't get a chance to talk about the clothing line, but we shot yesterday. Just one. But say thank you to Nevin Hawk forgiven us those cute little outfits for our boys and girls. I also want to put up the link for the actions that I used. That was the color action, the florist action, and also for the the inspired right. But I showed you guys yesterday. It was designed a glow. And then today I wasn't sure if he would have time again at the end to show you today are little girls are going to be dressed in two to demand gorgeous little like Princess e ballerina e inspired inspired clothes. Eso today dive into So what's the secret? We've been talking about the like wise and house, and how do you take a picture of the kids and how do you get them to behave and all those kind of fun things? But what's the secret to being that photographer like the photographer that you aspire? Teoh. And really, it's not a secret. It's just using your eye, your heart in your b...

rain. It's all about letting you come through and let your gut tell your story. And I know that's really hard, especially when you're first starting out and trying to find your way. And you just want to do other people who said works well for them. But at the end, I can give you all the things that we talked about over these past two days. I can give you the gear that I used, the actions that I showed you. The process is I go through the people I use. The resource is I used, but that isn't going toe necessarily make your pictures be any better than they were yesterday. It just means that you're using different things to make them happen. You have to actually dive in and figure out like we talked about with, you know, the gear and everything, like figure out what's look, you're going for What? What are you trying to dio? So the big question here is the big question is, how do you tap into your talents? How do you figure out you and the simple and quick answers that would just be hard work? Um, I know, I think I said yesterday or the day before it's you know, just practice practice practice. Had a conversation this morning we had talked about, um you know, even having something that you're creating or having another hobby, that you have to take pictures, that it gives you that reason to keep taking pictures, even maybe when you're not feeling inspired to. So just to know it's a long haul. Like when I was saying, you know, I started, I was doing this, and now I'm here. It sounds like a really easy story, but it's been a process over 10 years. And, like I had said, it was two years that it took for me, even when I made the decision to do what I want to do to actually get to a point where that's really what people we're hiring me for. And I was getting to do most the time, if I would say so. There's obviously another level to I know a lot of times to just in our social media world. Fame is a little bit of our maybe some of the goal in doing what we do in getting the most likes getting the most comments, getting things like that, I would say for me. Obviously, it feels good to have people tell you that they love what you do and have people you know stroke your ego. But at the end of a, that's not what I'm looking for. For me, it's more of an internal thing for me. It's those connections. Like I said, if a kid leaves the chute and loves me and give me a hug and I'll get little cards in the mail from my kids, sometimes it's like hand drawn little thank you's and they'll say what they liked best, like to me that Trump's had I could put the picture up and if I didn't get one like or comment Yeah, I would have been disappointed by, but that would getting that kind of stuff. Trump's it also. For me, it's the it's the personal connections and just knowing I'm doing what I was put here to dio um, nothing to kind of think about two is and I'll dive more into this later. But we don't see it because everybody's always putting their bust out there. But even the best of the best have their struggles and their doubts and I I think that's a good thing because I think what that means. I think when you hit a point that you're not no longer struggling and you're just like, Oh, yeah, this is great. This is I don't think it means that you're no longer like trying hard. You're no longer like putting the sweat and tears into it. So, you know, maybe that's not the goal. You're going for us to feel those pings and of pain. It really does mean good things. It really does mean that you're pushing yourself hard. I like to compare what we do toe like exercise. You know, it's when you're really seeing the results. Is when you know you're sweating and the muscles or burning. That's when you know you do that for long enough. That's when you're gonna see the results. It's not when you're just, you know casually, you know, enjoying your little trail walk. You're not gonna see the results from that. Um, so basically, the secret is hard work and using your heart, your eye, your vision, listening to the gut. I know it's set a lot, and I think it's become kind of cliche, you know, just But honestly, my gut never leads me astray, and I think even if what it's telling me to Dio doesn't necessarily become, you know, quote unquote successful. It's what I needed to do. It's what was part of my journey. It's in what we do. I think you have to acknowledge every little, every little instinct, every little twinge and, you know, play it out, use it because most the time it is, even if that first time it doesn't, it doesn't work out most the time. It's gonna it's gonna lead you to the right place. Um, just want to talk about the foundations that you kind of need, though before we've talked about a lot of these, but I just wanted to touch on in regards. Teoh making sure listening to your gut. You already have all these foundations in place so that you're not worrying anymore about how do I had a way? You don't want to? You don't be worrying about how do I make my camera do this? Do you want to know how your camera work? So then, when you're out and about and you decide I want this look, you know how to use your gear in order to get to that place. So choose those things carefully when I talked a little bit about this earlier, but the lenses, the things like that pay attention to what, like we were just talking January with your photo when you have the 35 up there and you know, you said, that's what you always shoot with, But for you that bubble, like for me, I couldn't do it. That couldn't be my mean. That could mean I mean lens just because, like I said, my bubble, I need space when I'm thinking you think and space when I am doing those kind of things. So those are things to consider. I touched a little bit on, like even renting. Remember I said I bought that 24 ended up. Luckily, my local place has an amazing return policy, so I was able to return it and exchange it for a night. But that's expensive. Mistakes to make $1200.1500 dollars. It's not something that you want to take lightly, so rent lenses. I've rented lenses. I don't even know how many times your local camera store we have our camera store runs. There's actual rental place. You know, online. There's rental. Resource is so try out all kinds of things. See what feels right to you. See what gives you the look that when you look at the picture, you're like, Yeah, that was what was in here. That's because it takes some trial and error. You don't know just looking at, you know, the lens You're looking at someone out. Like when I looked at that shot, it didn't occur to me was a 35 because you were so close to her. It to me. The 35 I still stand where I stand on a picture. And so when I shoot the 35 it's always a little bit farther back. And if I want that close look, then I use 85. So I think actually getting in your hand cause just because you love someone else's photo and what they do with it, they're using it in a way that's comfortable for them. Um, actions. I can ask all the time what actually use what actually views. And sometimes I want to be like, but it's my picture. Like I promised, the action didn't make it look this way. But they do start defining your style so that I think that's another reason I stuck with that same base action for so long as I found something that gave me that great pop that great that just a little bit of contract because I like my pictures to stay pretty true to what I'm seeing in real life. So play with stuff. Look at it on your photos. Look at it, you know, in with a, you know, stand back a little bit and be like, Is that Is that the feeling like when we were looking at Christie's actions and she does the color washes and things like, You heard the words she used my stuff, stream me. It's, you know, like, and you look at the actions she's telling the story, like, That's the story you see when you look so playing with that kind of second, pay attention to, you know, when you actually run it, is that the Is it giving the feeling that that's that's what I want? Um, your process to this is something that can stop you in your tracks. I think in business, and that's creating a workflow that's organized, effective will actually allow you Teoh still take on the other responsibilities that we have in life. You know, those little things like kids and building the tiny things that need attention too sometimes, uh, but there There's been times in doing this that you get so sucked up in the photography that you know you're editing til three. AM You're shucking the other responsibilities because you have to get this done and that done. So I think being really deliberate and sitting down and figuring out, like, How can I make this part of my life without taking over? My life is huge because that can burn him out right there. You can absolutely love what you dio, but if you have enough days, were up until three and then you're up at six with the kids, anybody's gonna cut out. So I think it's just really important to figure out. Like I've several times mentioned how you know how I source my products, how I you don't find my inspiration, how I put it together. Your find all of its tiny bits. All of it is, you know, I'll find a prop when I'm already shopping at the mall for you know, my kids shoes or something. So it's not something. It's taking five minutes here and there. It's not something where I'm having to vote whole hours or days, and then finding that workflow process to is a big thing. And a lot of times that comes back to you because of how I process I wanted, you know, spend time on each picture. Well, then that tells me I probably shouldn't be shooting more than, you know, once or twice a week if I want to be seen. So being able to sit down and figure that out for yourself, you don't have to take on work. Take on those things unless it really works for you. Keep telling yourself that it's OK, does they know? And it makes just look like you're super busy, right? And people want you more. Um, resource is to me, re sources aren't just the gear and the stuff. I'm using that resource of the people that I lean on, the people that I collaborate with, the people that help me do things that so that's one thing when you sit down and you figure out, maybe I'm taking you know I'm up till three AM editing every night. Well, maybe you can take on someone that will, like once you call your images, they'll color, correct, and for you. And they're back to you and you go through him a lot quicker. Time is money, and if it's not something, you're enjoying it because you're begrudging having to do it. Then lean on. People find people to bring into your world that can, That can help you. So those are just a couple of things I think that helped clear the way. So it makes it easier to go out and do what you want to do, which is create because all these other things can get in the way and, you know, boggle your mind and make it make it harder than it really, really is. Um, collaboration. So I you saw a lot of a lot of my photos there, Waas like, Oh, I said, this person did that for me or this person did that for me talking about, you know, you could be good at several things. I think to that. Sometimes we need to just acknowledge the fact that you should just concentrate on one thing at a time for a while, even if you know eventually you want to bring it all back in. I think giving each thing that time to really dive in and work it to its to its Max is a good thing. So there's times where I brought people in forever. There's been people I've run in for every single aspect of what I do other than clicking the shutter so that I can focus on. Maybe I want to work on posing for a while, cause all notice. Sometimes you know, I'm noticing a lot of my shots. I'm doing the, you know, getting the same thing. And there's times I've had times where I look at the pictures and your first instinct is like, Oh, that kid didn't really bring much the table. Then I realized, you know, it was me. Not bringing much to the table was me not giving that interaction. It was me not asking the questions and bring the personality out like it's just a much are, you know, it's great when you have a model that will do it all for you, but at the same time we have to take responsibility. So I do like to refocus and come back to that kind of thing. And I also look at like, I like to use, like Michael Jordan as a perfect example of someone that focused on a niche because, you know, basketball, baseball, like whole nine yards right? And then he focused in on that one thing and gave it is all and see how that resulted in. I like to. I like to think that if you whether it's just the maybe the niche, like the Children niche, the styling, whatever that you want to focus on. Or maybe it's like becoming the best lighting that you want to focus on. I think that's what begins to separate you to not only having your own style, but that that specific genre that will also set you apart and so that you don't have to worry about the other photographer down the street or he's competing with you because if you're known for your lighting and you know how toe you know, mass that light and create the most amazing, beautiful images, they're gonna see your images and just be like I want that, So I think it's it's important, Teoh figure. Figure out what your that is. And also, um, we're gonna at the end of the day, I'm really excited. I've seen are three poster boards and they're going to touch on some of these things. So maybe at home, if you guys can kind of start jotting things down if you like with some of these questions, I'm going to ask. I know when we look it, your Guises Journal and poster boards at the end. It end of the day. It's going to be kind of touching on these things. But look at the pieces once you've completed work and it's a it's work that you're really happy with the result. What part of that made you proud like? Why did it make you proud? Was the reaction of the client only? Was it the actual image itself? Was it because you went out there and you did learn how to use that lighting like you learned a new skill? Um, I think those are things if you rather than just going through the motions. And that's another thing, too. When you untie yourself from the drudgery of the hours and hours and hours hours, it gives you time to critique yourself. And I think sometimes we just get in his own and you forget to critique yourself. You're just getting it getting it done. Um so actually, sit back. Look at your last shoot. And what part of it made you most proud? What about the work ignited ignited that feeling, you know, Was it something that client brought to you? Maybe it's finding the right client for you once we take the time to understand, Like what we're valuing. Then we know more what to showcase and what to push for with the other with the other clients. Um, for me, it's like happy and fun images like I know that's what I want. My book brand to be is I want people be happy when they look at them. So for me, that's what I focused on. And I actually did my own, like, little questioning in my little jotting. And so even when I had my last website, when I did even my bio, I went with colors and the color that you know how it made me feel like blue. What makes me sad like it was an entire branding process that I went through in order to, and that all came from me trying to figure out like, What is it? Which images do I want then Do I want to showcase who I am? And some people? It's like the more a motive connected. Like when you see Amy's work today, it's just like you look at it and you could just feel in your chest and it's just amazing to me and she's made this, you know, like when I see her like, you know her image when you see it because she's tapped into that and me who she is and you know it could be a simple is just wanting to have simple, strong portrait. It doesn't have to be, you know, out there or crazy. It's just just knowing when you see the photo. Is that what makes your heart sing?