Thursday, February 18, 2010

Photography


Here is a post you will not care about but I am venting. Photography is my job. For a living I photograph tons of babies, toddlers, kiddos, families, seniors, you get the picture. (No pun intended). Seriously I love it...I LOVE it. I love capturing that new baby phase when they're all wrinkly and curled up, I love the slobbery phase, I love the wide eyed into everything phase. I love it all. It doesn't bother me at all when I have a fussy one or one who won't sit still. I just play a little, give them a chance for a bottle or a cuddle and we're good to go.


What I do not love??? The expense of photography. Seriously, I love it when an important piece of my equipment wheezes out it's last breath and when I haul myself online to order a replacement and it's never cheap...it's usually several hundred dollars or more. Seriously.... makes me wanna spit nails. I would much rather spend my money on some cute prop or background that on some piece of techie crap that makes the whole rig run right. Which is exactly what I'm getting ready to do. My little box that controls all of my studio lights has sadly seen it's last days. I though about burying it in the backyard but alas I will order a new one. And then I will cuss and fuss when I have to get used to it and I will bemoan the fact that my other one had served me well for 6 years.


Also...in case you couldn't tell by the above paragraph I will clarify. I am 100% self taught. I have spent countless hours with my nose stuck in a book or up all night online and shot thousands of crappy photos to learn this business. Is it the "right" way? Who knows, but it's my way, and this far it's been more successful than I ever dared to hope for. I have customers who loyally come from out of city and out of state so I can photograph their precious families and I love them more than they could know. If I do anything right as a photographer it's because I did it wrong at least 4 or 5 times and learned from it!


But all of the failed equipment and money spent and hours studying is so well worth it when I get an email or a phone call from a mom who tells me when she saw the photos I took of her newborn baby she cried.


So I will continue to sink money into equipment and books and workshops because sadly I'm addicted.

4 comments:

Sherri said...

I wouldn't think of taking my precious grandbabies anywhere else! Love you and your work!!

Lesley said...

Happy to let you vent - gosh knows I do it all the time myself! However, just let me remind you that I am one of those mamas forever grateful for your skill, talent, and time. You have given me PRICELESS gifts that I am so lucky to have! All this being said, if you truly get fed up, you can always go back to doing my hair : ) You were great at that job too! (Just wait to go back to that job after I get my kids raised, okay?)

jparsley said...

Don't worry Lesley! I'm never so fed up that I consider quitting. I love it way too much, I just need a bottomless supply of cash! I do miss doing hair sometimes, and I try to figure out a way to fit it back in...hmm what are you doing between the hours of 1 and 3 am?

Stephanie said...

I am one of those very thankful Mommies who LOVE the pictures you have taken of my babies!...not to mention very thankful you taught me how to use my new camera! I do really miss our long chats while you highlighted my hair:)