This is the photo that made me fall in love with photography. I took it nineteen years ago. Black and white film in a manual-focus Canon. I was trying so hard to get everyone to look at the camera and cooperate. I didn’t even know what lighting was. The baby had an ear infection and was really grumpy. When I opened the Rainbow Photo envelope, I pulled out the 36 prints and started sorting through them like a mad person. Did I capture that perfect shot?
And then I saw it. It wasn’t what I expected. But it was perfect. A metaphor for my life as a 28-year-old mom with five little boys. Messy and chaotic. Like my dad would have said, it was like herding cats... everyone going a different direction. And right in the middle of it, Kevin looking right at the camera, serene. It was a little bit of magic.
Do I miss the days of film cameras? NO. I LOVE my digital camera. I love being able to instantly see on my camera if my lighting is looking the way I want. I love not having to print my photo shoot in order to see if I got any great shots. I love being able to edit my photos digitally.
You would think that it would have taken me a lot less than 19 years to get to where I am with my photos. I need to spend more time learning about settings and the technical aspect of photography. But that photo 19 years ago was the beginning. It lit a creative fire that still burns to find those special shots... the ones that connect people. I’m doing my first newborn baby photo shoot this afternoon. I’m a little nervous because they have to be taken indoors and the lighting is going to be an issue. Posing will be a new challenge. Props... yikes. But I can’t wait. I love a challenge. Oh! And by next week my photography website will be up and running. I’ll keep you posted.
