I'll admit - I have an obsessive type personality.
When we moved into our current home, it was only a few days and I had everything unpacked.
And sometimes when I get involved in a good book, I obsess about it and nothing around home gets done until I have finished reading it.
Or when I've gone through my scrapbooking phases, it was weeks before I saw the bottom of the table again.
Or like when I was introduced to Gilmore Girls in their 6th season and I discovered the local library carried the complete DVD set. It took me only one month to watch all the episodes from the beginning starting with season 1.
Or like when I am hit by the writing bug, or cleaning bug, it's all that I do for awhile. But sometimes when the passion for these things strike, I do produce my best writings, cleaning, organizing, scrapbooking, etc. and I am left with a euphoric feeling over my great accomplishments. It's a type of satisfying productivity beyond compare in just any ordinary day.
Some of these obsessions are short lived. And then others continue on, without ceasing, like blogging for example. I have been hooked on blogging for over two years now.
There is another obsession of mine that just doesn't seem to die either. The art in taking pictures. I would use the word photography but truthfully, there is more of a finesse in that, and where I am at right now the phrase 'taking pictures' feels more fitting.
This obsession of mine has been in full bloom for the past six months and continues to deepen a passion within me. The more I learn the more passionate I become.
This past winter I took engagement photos for friends of ours. We had so much fun and I loved playing "photographer" for the day.
I created a watermark using the word photography behind my name for posting the images on the web. It was exciting to see such a title next to my personal name but it felt strange too. The level of perfection that I place over this artistic field would say that I have not quite earned that title yet. But a watermark that says "Kristen Stamm Photo Taker" doesn't sound so elegant, does it?
So I keep working.
Keep learning.
Keep perfecting.
I've searched the web, joined a few photography forums, and even taken the geeky step of reading my camera's manual *eek*.
It was about a half a year ago I lost my training wheels, a.k.a. the automatic mode dial. For 6 months I have been learning to power my camera by my own knowledge - shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to meter the shots the way I want them to turn out.
I've also been blessed to have befriended some professional photographers that have been extending their help to me. I even had the honor of assisting one in her studio, a newborn twin photo shoot. Oh la la, it was amazing!
And I've volunteered to take the cast's photographs for a local community theater.
With all of the reading, experience, and education I have gained thus far I have learned that I know very little about photography. That intrigues me...and intimidates me too, a flaw of character of mine that with maturity I am learning to harness and not let it stop me from achieving my dreams.
Back in October, I wrote about this pursuit of a dream - the dream to be a professional photographer.
Maybe it'll happen someday.
Maybe it won't.
But it's truly not the title of Professional that I seek. There's many definitions out there of what a true professional photographer really is and how to achieve it. But what I seek after is the love and enjoyment in the ability to capture life and do it well. It's been fulfilling to do it for my own family and the dream of doing it for others, well that only gives this passion more life.
This dream of mine has been building for months now until my dear husband finally told me, "Kill the fear and just do it already!"
I love him so much for that!
So I am thrilled! I feel like I can take my 'photography' to a whole new level and I can't wait! I have butterflies in my belly as I write this, announcing that I am in the stages of building my Photography Portfolio (Ah that's exciting for me to say)!
Will you let me take your portraits?
By helping me build my portfolio, I am waiving my session fee and will give you a $50 print credit . And if you wish to order additional prints I'll even give you a great deal on those too.
**This offer is good while I am building my Photography Portfolio and is subject to change at any time. Then the price of my sitting fee will take effect and all photo purchases will return to full price.**
Send me an email to book your session now:
kris_lmt@yahoo.com
Cayman's first time drawing on herself.
I'm DUE!
