Choosing The One

You're ready to invest in a photographer to capture your memories which will last your lifetime--and hopefully for many generations after yours.  How do you choose The One?  We could talk about professionalism--whether a photographer is a registered business, has an attractive business card, or is a member of associations.  Or perhaps we could discuss photo quality, such as focus, composition, and color accuracy.  Budgets are usually a concern, so we could talk about ways to find an affordable photographer.

These are incredibly important issues, but they're missing two of the most vital questions.  Here are the most important things to consider when choosing the person who will preserve your memories:

1.  Do you like their work?

What you like matters.  This is the single-most important issue you should consider.  A photographer may produce beautiful, technically perfect portraits every time, but if you don't like their work, you will not like your photos.  Find a photog whose style matches what you want. Browse through all available images from a photographer and make sure you love a good portion of them.  

You like what you like, and that's enough.

2.  Are you comfortable?

It's important to have a consultation with your photog before you book a shoot.  Part of this is to discuss terms, expectations, contracts and other issues.  The big thing, though, is to find out whether you are you comfortable with this person.  Is talking with them easy?  Are you relaxed?  Cameras have a way of making folks feel nervous, so if you feel awkward during your consultation, it will only be worse when the camera is hauled out.  I'll confess--I loathe being in front of the lens and would much prefer to stay behind it.  Unless I'm with a photog who helps put me at ease, my discomfort is obvious in photos.

Find a photographer who makes you smile, laugh, and relax during your first meeting.

Obviously there are more questions to consider, but these are the big two.  Don't settle for a photographer whose work you don't like or who makes you feel uncomfortable, even if they fall in line with your budget.   Keep looking until you find The One for you.

Good enough.

I'm at that point in my photography craft that I realize how little I know about what I'm doing.  That is a terrible thing to say on a business page, but it's true!  I am learning new concepts and ideas at a neck-breaking speed.  With each new thing I learn, I want to re-edit every photo I've ever taken.  I also want to go back and re-shoot most of them, too, which is why I really need a Tardis.

Time-travel aside, it is really easy to succumb to that creative paralysis that consistently tries to take me down.  I must mindfully set aside perfection.  Right now I'm offering my work--to the very best of my ability--to my clients.  Tomorrow's work, next month's work, and certainly next year's work, will be better than today's.  

But today's work is good enough.

Reflections

I perched on the edge of the tub, gingerly dabbing droplets of blood from the sqwunched big toe of my screaming middle son. My daughter wailed in regret over exuberantly, thoughtlessly throwing open the door on her little brother's foot.  Dinner simmered towards "burned," unattended on the abandoned stove.  One neurotic dog ran laps around the house after escaping his crate, while the other hound whined from the sad remains of the now-warped cage.  The toddler stood on my foot, attempting to soothe his older brother while shooting me crusty glares.  

In that moment, I reconsidered all of my life's choices in an attempt to understand how I got to this place.

Before I reached any satisfactory explanations, the doorbell interrupted my reverie.  With a shrug, I embraced the chaos.  My friends, two kids and their dog entered our home.

This is my life.

It is beautiful.

I'm not an imposter.

That's what I keep telling myself, anyway.  I am not the best photographer or writer out there, but I'm good enough.  My talent has value, and it's okay to charge people for it.  Right?  Right.  

I hope so.

My inner dialogue on these new endeavors is all over the place.  It ranges from "who do you think you are?" to "you don't need anyone's permission."

I really don't, you know.  I don't need anyone's permission to go for it.  There is no authority that will tell me when I am good enough to go pro.  I determine that.  Now is the time.  

There's still a lot to learn and quite frankly, I'm scared.  When I put my art on display I feel like I'm baring my soul for the world's critique.  But you know what?  The world is critiquing anyway.  It might as well be my authentic self.  Better for them to hate me (or worse, make fun of me--or even worse, ignore me) for who I am than to love me for who I'm not.  I am most comfortable living veritably bare anyway.

That's me.  Veritably bare.

I don't know what this blog will look like.  Maybe it's a bad idea to tie my words to my photography site.  Maybe everything would be better in clean little separate categories.  Or maybe life is messy and beautiful and everything is all wrapped up together and that's what I want to display.

I'm 36 years old.  I am not an imposter.  This is my second coming of age.