I pray often for vision. I boldly pray for a miracle for Jared’s vision (he has lost most of it to a degenerative eye disease) but I also pray for a more metaphorical vision for my own life and the purpose of my photography.
As a photographer I’ve already gone through several stages as I’m sure many others do. I started off guzzling information from a fire hose. I followed every photographer who’s anybody. I mimicked editing styles, business plans, marketing strategies, poses…you name it.
And then I hit a wall.
I stopped, took a deep breath, and stepped back for a moment. This is where some call it quits. Others swallow hard, steel their nerves and push forward to redefine themselves and their business. I legitimately asked myself which one should I choose? This is not an industry for the faint of heart. Competition is rampant. But despite all of the obstacles, without a doubt, it’s what I’ve been called to do.
So I stopped comparing myself. I stopped ignoring the creative instincts that got me into this business in the first place that have long been drowned out by the noise of competition and self-doubt…and I’m embracing new ideas and shooting what I love. And it’s slow, and requires patience and heaps of faith…but I’m confident that I’m slowly becoming who God intended.
I still pray for vision. I slowly push myself and my worldly worries aside and I simply pray, that with each person, couple or family I work with, that I bring joy to my Father, and that it somehow blesses the lives of those I photograph.
Recently we were on a road trip that landed us in Washington and I was out for a run one day. I was circling the local Middle School track and couldn’t help but notice the little woods just behind the school. I scoped it out and it was one of those moments that I might have dismissed in the past as a waste of time, but I was immediately mesmerized and decided to follow through. I knew I needed to bring my sweet Grace here to photograph her…and I did.
Should I go in?
The call of the wild.
My friends, take the time to find your vision…
shoot what you love…
leave your fear behind…
and soar.
Sometimes I ask myself…..Is the glass half empty or half full? Do you know sometimes I say it is half empty. That is when I have to stop and recognize that my life is spinning out of control. My family expects a lot, my friends expect a lot, and most of all, I expect a lot . As Ray Faris said, we have the abundance of life, love, joy, money, knowledge and above all faith.