Hello Today!

For those of you wondering just how I got started in photography, this post is for you. It may inspire you to follow a similar path or it may cause you to run the other way. If you are an aspiring photographer or just curious about my process, read on ...

In the winter of 2008, my first born child was 6 months old and had become a champion sleeper. I know right? Lucky, lucky me! But as the days of timely naps fell routinely in place, my brain was slowly turning to 'Mama Mush'. The floors were cleaned, the meals were planned, the laundry was done, the story times and gross motor activities were implemented... now what? I needed to jump-start some creative spark in me...

As a 'new mama gift-to-self', I bought my first DSLR camera; a nifty Nikon D40 with two zoom kit lenses. This was far, far from my point and shoot polaroid days! (Ah, the nostalgic "click, whir, spit' of the instant image maker, how I loved thee!) For the next 6 months, I took pictures of anything and everything. I used my most faithful subject, my son, and less faithful subject, my cat, in a variety of scenes and settings. With all that money spent and fancy camera and lenses in hand, my images were not really any better than those that my polaroid produced.

That was when I realized that I needed to take it to the next level and study. I couldn't fathom taking on a full course-load or even night courses with a baby at home and so I turned to the school of Google.  I read about ISO, shutter speed, F-stops and aperture. I read about creative lighting and composition, rule of thirds and how and when to break the rule of thirds. I read about depth of field, white balance and ambient lighting. I read all that I could to help me transform my image ideas and visions into true photographic art.

Then I read something that caused me to pause. "Make money selling your photos online". Wait, what? Having just had a child and down to a single family income this piqued my interest and I found myself on Shutterstock, a world-renouned stock website. Now, for anyone interested in going this route, beware that it is NOT quick money, or even good money, unless this is your soul job and photographic purpose. But, the learning that can take place throughout the process is priceless. Reading about photography is great but without guidance or tasks or structure to follow, my personal 'studies' failed.

The very good and knowledgeable photographers on the Shutterstock forums were so helpful and provided the kicks I needed to push myself and my learning. Yup, they kicked me full of inspiration! The technical and saleable criteria for submitting to and being accepted as a contributor on Shutterstock and other stock sites can be a devastating blow to what you think you know. It is so tough that if 7 out of your 10 images don't pass muster, you application is denied and you have to wait a full 30 days until you can re-apply.

For months I posted image after image for critique on the SS forums and for months I learned and grew an amazing amount. I learned how to 'make the shot' not just 'take the shot'. I developed the ability to discern a tack sharp image from a so-so image and I learned that there was so much more to learn! I finally got the courage to apply and low and behold, "8 out of 10 images approved". I began to 'feed the beast' and was uploading 10 images a week, after spending hours setting up studio lights, detailed scenes and post-image editing. My photographic skills and technical abilities reached a transformative state but taking pictures of flowers and fruit just wasn't cutting it anymore. Although I continue to have a modest portfolio of stock images for sale that do sell, I am not a stock photographer. I will be forever thankful that I joined the stock community for the (free) education I received not to mention the wonderful and talented people I met. My heart and passion, however, lie in the face to face relationships I have with the people I photograph.  The biggest lesson I learned was that I am a portrait photographer.

If you are interested in honing your photographic skills you can start with these few basic tips...

~ Find a mentor or photo buddy that will force you to practice and make you accountable for your own learning process.

~ Take the brave step of getting out of "auto" mode and learn how to use your settings in manual mode.

~ Take pictures EVERYDAY. 

~ Have your images critiqued. Join an online community of photographers that will allow you to post images for critique.

~ Don't take critiquing personally! Find a learning point in every statement and question posed to you about your work.

~ Enjoy the process and you will come to find that this journey of learning is never-ending, and that is a good thing!

If you are curious to know what stock images look like, feel free to check out my little portfolio by clicking here.

Enjoy the view!

Tanis