I'm a photographer.
I've spent hours upon hours over the past ten years wondering why I'm not good enough.
No, I don't mean good enough at life in general.
I'm referring to my photo-taking abilities. I've called myself a "photographer" for a long time now without embracing the title. A hobbyist, sure, but definitely a photographer. I'd have this dilemma about what constitutes a legit photographer and who decides that? Ultimately, I decided I'd just fake it. I built the website, created the Facebook page, made myself a special email address.
I thought that would do it - that's what would make me feel like a photographer.
I'm sitting at my desk tonight reflecting on my past year. Professionally, artistically, financially, and personally. I could go on and on about the equipment upgrades and fancy business tools I purchased, but that still wouldn't convey my point.
My point is, sometime in the past year I've actually begun to feel like a photographer. Someone who has artistic ability. That person who has an eye that's different from everyone else. Someone who's worthy of accepting your hard-earned money in exchange for a well-produced, artistic representation of who you are in my eyes.
Somehow I changed my self-perception and I could NOT be happier about it. I've been on a journey of self-love this year, losing weight, battling a severe mental struggle, opening the next chapter to my marriage and my (now) growing family. In this moment, during a time of year that is usually affected by my depleted vitamin D levels and sub-zero temperatures, I am happy.
I am a photographer and an artist... and it only took me ten years to get here.
No, I don't mean good enough at life in general.
I'm referring to my photo-taking abilities. I've called myself a "photographer" for a long time now without embracing the title. A hobbyist, sure, but definitely a photographer. I'd have this dilemma about what constitutes a legit photographer and who decides that? Ultimately, I decided I'd just fake it. I built the website, created the Facebook page, made myself a special email address.
I thought that would do it - that's what would make me feel like a photographer.
I'm sitting at my desk tonight reflecting on my past year. Professionally, artistically, financially, and personally. I could go on and on about the equipment upgrades and fancy business tools I purchased, but that still wouldn't convey my point.
My point is, sometime in the past year I've actually begun to feel like a photographer. Someone who has artistic ability. That person who has an eye that's different from everyone else. Someone who's worthy of accepting your hard-earned money in exchange for a well-produced, artistic representation of who you are in my eyes.
Somehow I changed my self-perception and I could NOT be happier about it. I've been on a journey of self-love this year, losing weight, battling a severe mental struggle, opening the next chapter to my marriage and my (now) growing family. In this moment, during a time of year that is usually affected by my depleted vitamin D levels and sub-zero temperatures, I am happy.
I am a photographer and an artist... and it only took me ten years to get here.
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