She Believed She Could, So She Did.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking pictures. I would have piles and piles of disposable cameras in my room and save up my money to get them developed at the local drugstore. I would get doubles of each picture, not only because it was cheaper (weird, right?), but because I loved to scrapbook and put pictures in frames and just organize them with every memory captured. 

When my husband bought me my first DSLR camera, I knew I had a lot to learn. I wanted to get my hands on every piece of photography material I could. I enrolled in the New York Institute of Photography, and I embarked on a journey to become a better photographer. If anything, I knew I would better myself for personal family photos and provide my children with pictures they could cherish for a lifetime. 

But then something happened; people started asking me to take their pictures and I was flattered. I would question myself and make excuses that I was just learning and yada, yada, yada. But I slowly started becoming more confident in the pictures I was taking and fed off the compliments. I would stalk my "clients" Facebook as their family and friends "oooooed" and "ahhhhed" at the pictures that I was taking. Me. This amateur photographer right here. 

I've found every excuse in the book not to take this to the next step. Too much competition. No education in photography. Not enough time. No knowledge on running a business. Etc. Etc. But if there's one thing I know, I'm passionate about it. I love taking pictures and taking my creativity to a new level. I love working on the concept of the shoot. I love the interaction with the subjects. I love seeing their reactions when I deliver their photos. 

And because of all of this, I think it's time to commit myself to a part-time business. 
I'm scared. Scratch that, I'm TERRIFIED. Putting my name on something so precious scares me. I'm afraid of rejection, I'm afraid of failure, and I'm afraid of my own insecurities. 

But I'll never know if I don't try. And I'll never forgive myself if I don't just do it. I have A LOT to learn but how am I ever supposed to get any better if I don't try? Practice makes perfect…right?

So friends, it's in the works. I don't know how long it will take or how I'm going to start this whole shebang but it's going to happen. I've been talking about it for years and it's finally time to do something for myself. I need to do this for myself. 
Stay tuned friends, shit's getting real around here :) And with that, I'm getting Whitty Wit It for this week's Back That Azz Up. I love this song, and don't ask me why. But hey, this post is about photography so it works, right? #letmetakeaselfie. 

Have a great weekend, friends! 
 "Be sure to check out this month's featured blog!"