Fear and Movement: For Art's Sake Project. Professional Photographer's Challenge

You know how you look back at images you made 2 years ago and think, what the heck was I thinking? Growing and changing is an important part of art. The biggest road block to us progressing in this way, is fear. As artists, fear can play a big part in what we do. Art by nature is something so personal, you have to put yourself out there, unsure of the reactions of others, unsure of how they will see what you are doing. On top of that, and probably even worse, we judge ourselves.

Fear can be our biggest enemy in business as well. It can hold us back, it can keep us from risking or trying new things for fear that our audience will not respond. The consequences are higher when your art is your business. If they don't respond, you don't get paid, you can't support your family, yourself, or buy the new iPhone 6 ;)

Over the years this has been a struggle for me. I have found, however, that if I don't risk a bit, try new things, step out of my comfortable box of doing what I know I am good at, things become stagnant. My art and my business need to be moving and progressing, improving and growing. That will never happen when I am paralyzed by fear. It will never happen if I am creating the same things over and over. This could mean shooting the same locations, the same type of lighting situations that you are comfortable in, same type of subjects…etc. I am not suggesting you forget all of those comfortable mastered skills, especially not during someone's wedding! But take a day or two a month to try something you don't think you can do, you don't think you will be good at. Maybe it will come out like crap or maybe you will discover that you LOVE shooting back lit! Either way that is how we grow, and how we take things to the next level.

As with most things I think it is all in your perspective. Fear can be a good thing. It can keep us pushing and making our art better each time. It can keep us from getting lazy or sloppy with our work. A little bit of fear is healthy and has a purpose for sure.

So go ahead and face those fears! Afraid of shooting in full sun? Take 2 hours at mid day and go at it. Afraid you can't use studio lighting? Set up some lights and take some self portraits!  It doenst have to be good, it really doesn't. Give yourself that permission to create something that might just be bad. Do it for the sake of facing your fears and growing as an artist and as a business. What are YOU afraid of?

EDITED WITH DELTA 3200 FROM THE MEMENTO PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS COLLECTION

This week's image speaks of my fears in two ways. First is in the situation in which I shot it. There is an abandoned house on my street that I just love. It has the amazing multicolored tin roof, plants growing out of it, chipped paint, it's just beautiful. I don't know who owns it but I wanted to shoot it. I have a serious fear of doing things that I am not suppose to do, that could "get me in trouble". I was raised in Catholic school and you don't break the rules there! Not that I am advocating that you all trespass and break rules. In fact trespassing is very bad. But I was going to be barely on the property line for my shot, it was really close to the street. This was something that I wanted to do to face one of my fears. I had to stand out on my own street in a white nightgown and hat in front of any of my neighbors driving by.  Also keep in mind I live in the south, people here will shoot you for trespassing. So my fear was pretty warranted actually! ;) I set up my tripod and stood just barely on the property for my shot. My heart was pounding the whole time and I was trying to think of a good pose at the same time.

The pose I chose is to represent how we need to love ourselves enough to face our fears and be ok with whatever the outcome. It also expresses how we turn inward when we get afraid and don't open ourselves up.  I hope that this inspires you in some way to face your own fears. And please don't call the cops on me for trespassing.

A Yoga Pose for Creativity: Holistic & Inspired

I love yoga. It is like exercise without having to exercise to me. It is uplifting at the same time as it is challenging. Right up my alley! I have been thinking about some poses that are good for us as creatives. Something that might help us in a time where we need some inspiration, when we need to hit pause, step away from the computer and refresh. The first thing that comes to mind is Child's Pose. I talk a lot about what we can learn from children, and here is one more thing. In this pose you are laying face down on the ground, knees up to your chest, and your head is down with forehead touching the floor. For me this pose shuts our the world around me, the stressfulness, the distractions. It allows me to feel like I can be in my own world, just like as a child. I an let my imagination go since I have eliminated all distractions. Close your eyes and put yourself anywhere you would like to be, and see what happens from there! Your imagination can surprise you at times, it can bring you a creative present you were not expecting, if you give it the chance and the right environment. Namaste. To enhance your creativity even more you can diffuse an uplifting essential oil such as peppermint or lemon. If you are feeling overwhelmed then try lavendar or bergamot to relieve your stress; 2 of my all time favorite smells especially when mixed together.

Holistic & Inspired: Musings, Confessions and Natural Living for Creatives

Welcome to my new journey I am calling Holistic & Inspired. 

So what does wellness or holistic living have to do with photography you ask? Good question ;) As creative people wellness is very important. When trying to be creative, especially on demand like we have to do when we run a business, feeling your best is really helpful. If you feel run down and tired, or are sick, or just plain don't feel good, it is harder to pull out your best creative work!

My mom raised me to use natural remedies whenever possible and to respect our earth and the great healing resources God gave us. These days I feel this is more important than ever to try to be self sustainable as well as be aware of keeping ourselves and our families healthy.

If you are interested in this too, follow along and I will bring you some thoughts on things have learned along the way. I will also take you on my journey to further my knowledge and experience. I have a little girl just starting preschool (germfest!) and a husband with a chronic disease that I am fighting to help with him every day. If you are interested in any particular topics or concerns please contact us and let me know!

xoxo Meghan Aileen

Thoughts on Not Shooting People: For Art's Sake Project

Professional Photographer's Challenge: For Art's Sake

A 52 week challenge to fall back in love with art

Thoughts on Not Shooting People

I know most of you shoot people for a living (insert joke about telling people that at your high school reunion here) And I usually do too. I love the emotion and movement and engaging connection that images of people can show. But this week I wanted to focus on an object. Mix it up a bit! I shot a lot of detail images when I did weddings, and I enjoyed that part of it quite a bit. I like the simplicity of just shooting a thing. I don't have to talk to it, try and get it to understand what I want it to do, work with it's schedule or in my daughter's case, her mood and every whim! I just sat it where I wanted it and it stayed there! This cool looking thing is an antique miners lamp. It is probably from the early 20th century and was used on the hard hats of the miners as well as motor cars, bicycles and more. I love the design of it, the texture and colors of the metal and the fonts and text on it as well. I bought it from a guy at the flea market when I was trying to plan my shot of Fiona and the vintage wooden race cars. I didn't end up using it in that image, and kept it more simple but wanted to do something with this. I edited it with the new Americana Lightroom Presets I am working on and I love them for objects as well! If you feel like you need a break from shooting people, from finding a model, or doing what your client's want instead of what you want. Shoot an object. Find something that has gorgeous color, texture or shape and just photograph it for the simple beauty that it is.

Edited with the new Americana Lightroom Presets coming soon!'

xoxo Meghan Aileen

Week 4: Professional Photographer's Challenge. For Art's Sake: Surreal Children's Photography

For Art's Sake: Surreal Children's Photography

Imagination. Wonder. Adventure. These were my inspiration for this week. Sticking with the surreal I decided to go a different direction with an image of a child. Having a 2 year old has taught me so much about wonder, imagination, and enjoying simple pleasures. The way her mind works is so intriguing. She can spend hours with a blanket or a balloon creating all kinds of games and things to do. We could all learn a little something from that. We need such complex entertainment as we get older and especially in this highly advanced age of technology.

We stopped the car the other day on the way home because there were 3 hot air balloons setting up to take off in a field by our house. Those are the kind of things that can make even us adults revert to a more child-like state of awe. My daughter was so fascinated. All of us were. I like to imagine that something like this image was going on in her head when she got home....

Disclaimer: Kids don't try this at home  ;)

For Art's Sake Photography Challenge: Surreal Children's Photography

This sweet little miss here is getting ready to float off into the sky for an morning adventure. As any good pal would do, she lovingly ties each one of her friends to their own balloon, and off they go. I imagine they tease the squirrels in the trees, someone needs to. I am sure they go down the street to the neighbor's house with the pool and land right in the water. Those furry critters must get hot in the Southern summer heat.

I needed a bit of that contrast I love in there so the overgrown boarded up house contrasts the clean innocence of the child and the animals. I am going to stick with the child based surreal for next week too, there is something I really love about this. It is good for my soul too to have to put myself in the mind of a child. I learn so much from their curiosity and wonder. My jaded old mind is starting to appreciate the simple joy of balloons, turtles, and lightning bugs too.

Hope to see you next week!

xoxoxo

Meghan Aileen

The Shoppe Photoshop Actions Used: 

Matte from the In Vogue Actions Collection

Tea Time from the Nostalgia Actions Collection

1600 Film from the Nostalgia Textures Collection