New Awakening!

I had a great experience this week. I am fortunate to have so many good, lifelong friends, some of whom were here visiting this week. The weather was sublime, and having food and drink was a great time to catch up. However, there was something that I had been noting consistently in our conversations. There were things that were starting to consume me. So I went right to the source. We talked over a couple of beers and I began to realize that my entire life I have tried so hard to be perfect. You know that that will only lead to a lot of disappointment. And that was the feeling I was getting. My entire life I had taken things so personally. As we talked, I began to realize that life is not about perfection. We are here to help each other, have fun with each other, and to bring out the best in each other. And laughter will go a long way towards that goal. 

I have always been known as the nice guy who is funny. But things were looking differently all of a sudden. I was questioning how people perceived me. And now I realize that I was worried over nothing. My thoughts of how others perceived me was totally misconstrued. I had made all of that up in my own mind! Sometimes the things we worry about the most are not even there. Had I not been worrying about being perfect and what others thought about me, I would have enjoyed life, and my friends, so much more. So today I take that step. It has given me a feeling of being free that I cannot explain. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new friends and having a laugh or two or three. 

I share this with you because I hope that it helps you, too. And I know that it will help me be a better photographer. As one of my photography teachers Jerry Ghionis says, " If you want to be a better photographer, be a better person."  Make that connection. Learn not only what she wants in a boudoir photo, but why she feels that way. Portraiture, especially boudoir photography, is so much about the feeling. And I promise to see the world a little differently, to be a better person and photographer   Sure, I want the lighting and the pose to be right. But more than that, I want to see the real you in a photograph. You want to look good, and personality is what makes a good photograph a great one.