Hello, My Name is Stephanie and I’m a Photographer

I’m not sure why that’s so hard for me to say to people.  When they ask what I do.  I’m a graphic designer. Sign maker. Office manager. Sometimes I say photographer.  Not very often though.  There’s something about being a self taught photographer that makes it feel less valid (I’m self taught at graphic design so there’s a little insecurity there also).  Like all the other self taught photographers are more legit than me.  I’ve done online classes. Read blogs. Listened to podcasts. Studied other photographers images. I’ve taken tons and tons of pictures.  Edited with presets and actions and eventually learned to edit by hand (even though sometimes I still use those tools).  I’ve posed and unposed, used good light and light that made me want to trash a whole session. But I’ve learned. and learned and learned and learned. 

I’ve learned that I’m a very emotional person.  That I feel everything a little deeper than I want to really. And that is how I photograph.  I capture (well try to capture) the emotion I feel in a person.  The connection. The sweet details that may be forgotten as time marches quickly on.  The comfort a wife feels as she snugs up to her husbands arm.  The way kids are always willing to hug and love on mama.  Or on the sweet occasion I get to have grandmas or great grandmas in front of my camera, the way they adore their grandchildren.  There’s

always emotion.

Seniors are different.  They still have emotion and I still look for it.  But there’s sometimes an insecurity that we have to work past.  The first thirty minutes of a Senior Session usually produce some of my least favorite images. We’re both a little insecure and trying to find our way out of our own minds. It pretty much goes for guys and girls.  But man, the stuff that comes when they get more comfortable in their skin and with me (usually with my camera in their face haha) is so, so good.  Just a little side note..its okay to feel beautiful. To not pick yourself apart.  To just look at an image and see a beautiful person.  We’re all flawed and trying to be better than we are.  There’s beauty in the flaws. We just gotta learn to embrace them.

I kinda do relaxed posing. I put you where I want you (sometimes it feels a little awkward).   But then I like to talk.  Ask questions.  Its ok to tickle and hug and kiss and look at each other..unless its just you.  Then it gets kinda weird haha.   Honestly, I would rather you look at each other than look at me the whole time.  Of course we will get the classic smiling at the camera picture that grandma wants to hang on her wall.  But we will get all the emotional ones too that mama will want to look at over and over again. And can we just talk about walls for a minute?  I like to think I’m giving you pictures to hang on your actual wall.  Like, in the living room. or dining room.  Not just your facebook wall.  Don’t get me wrong, they look good there too! But print your images.  See them every day. They’re worth it, I promise.

My editing is something I’ve struggled with some.  I tend to let the picture take me where it needs to go. That part I don’t have trouble with.  Sometimes the images don’t seem to be what my “style” is.  And everything I’ve read says that you should have a distinct style.  But I do not like to force things. I’ve had to become okay with some galleries looking a little different than my norm.  I’m working on it.

So. All that to say..I am a photographer.  I have a few people in my corner that encourage and push me to put myself out there.  I have a few people in the other corner too.  Ones that I would hope to have in my corner but for whatever reason they are cheering for the other team.  I’m mixing sports here haha.  My point is I see you.  whichever corner you’re in. And you know what?  It’s okay. You don’t have to be cheering for me, but if you are..THANK YOU. Seriously, you keep me going on the days when I feel like putting it all down.  I love photography and I’m going to keep using my camera. Keep being me and shooting what I love. And I’d really love to have you in front of my camera. (there’s my cheesy marketing line)