A Look Into My Other Life… Photography!

So as promised this week’s blog will take a brief look into what I like to call my other life. Photography was is a passion of mine. I basically started about 8 years ago when a lot of people lied to me and told me I was good. In reality, looking back, I was terrible. I feel bad that people actually used to pay me for what I was producing. Think two-toned images, black and white with only some color.

*Sigh*

However, it gave me the drive and initiative to learn and progress my passion. So in 2009 I enrolled in school and earned a photography degree 2 years later. Most days the degree feels like a waste as I learned much of what I know now outside of school in workshops and through a lot of practice, trial and error, and assistance.

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” – Ansel Adams

A couple of major thank yous for this skill of mine goes out to my wife for supporting me on such a lucrative dream, and being patient through all the days, weeks, and months that I have dedicated to photography.

The other major thank you goes out to my dad who has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and taught me to learn new techniques. For introducing me to off camera flash, and for always, even still to this day, being my assistant without ever asking for anything in return. I definitely don’t think I would be where I am at today with photography without you.

I love the connection I have with clients. Being able to bring out their true personalities and letting it shine. My favorite is working with children. I absolutely LOVED newborn photography. I have been called, many times, the “baby whisperer”. Getting kids to come out of their shells and give me the biggest smiles when mom and dad have been telling me for weeks that it wouldn’t happen is such a joyous feeling. I feel like I am actually doing something important, documenting these precious moments in families lives. I love being able to share those moments with them and to experience such incredible things.

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” – Aaron Siskind

Seniors, milestones, engagements, weddings, bridals, boudoir, families, and even births. Such incredible moments that families will treasure forever. And I will never forget. Even for those who are no longer in our lives, I still have experiences and memories that will always be there.

Now I am stepping away from photography as a career and moving towards something a little more practical *and stable!* financially. On the bright side, I have developed a skill I can use throughout my life. I have 3 children who always need updated pictures, I hope to one day have grandchildren, and I have family and friends who simply will not let me no longer do their pictures. 🙂

So I am handing it off to my dad, who has progressed immensely over the last few years. There are days now where his pictures are even better than mine.

So without further ado, here are some of my absolute favorite pictures I have taken over the years. Some of these go back all the way to 2012. There are also quite a few pictures which I absolutely love that I choose not to share for privacy concerns, subject matter, the fact that my children sometimes read this blog, and also for personal reasons.

I would absolutely love to hear feedback, comments, questions, or anything you may have!

K~

Some Self Reflection…

It’s going on two weeks now since I had my big “aha” moment and oh, what a difference it has made.

Without the judgement, criticism and guilt clouding my heart and head, I am now at a point where I can begin to talk to myself and get to the bottom of my issues that had caused me to be the person I was.

And it has been very enlightening.

I’m learning a little bit more about myself everyday, and actually taking the time to hear what others are saying as well.

The walls are starting to crumble and fall all around me, in a good way. It feels amazing to be able to let the light shine in, letting others in as well after all these years.

One of the most surprising things I have found about myself is that I truly do care about people’s opinions about me. For years, decades even, I have been telling myself that no one else matters. Their thoughts and opinions didn’t make a difference. But in all honesty, I was way wrong. The comments and judgments have crept in through my cracked walls and have slowly, over long periods of time, clouded my heart. My anger and bitterness have been defense mechanisms. Not out of jealousy, not out of spite, but out of pain. I have not had a terribly difficult life, but I have still overcome a lot to get to where I am today. And it hurts when my morals, ethics, accomplishments, struggles and achievements are questioned or put down. Maybe that’s the reason I am never satisfied with my accomplishments? Maybe I try to distance myself through my career and achievements from those who put me down? Maybe .. 

I used to have a really close relationship with my three brothers. They would come over at least every other weekend and hang out with me. We would do all sorts of things – movies, video games, cooking, basketball. But then they just stopped doing that. I don’t remember the last time I actually hung out with any of them. It’s probably been at least 5 or 6 years.

And I guess that has created this feeling of abandonment. And because of that I started treating them like garbage. And any feeling of abandonment just grows into a fear of it. So I never let anyone in for fear that they will one day do the same thing. And, unfortunately, anytime I have tried having friends in the past it has always ended in disaster. Because I push people away, or I am critical, or something. Something always happens.

But I have to stop assuming. Stop thinking that just because it has happened in the last that it is going to happen in the future. Having friends is a good thing. It’s someone to talk to where I otherwise have no one (other than my wife).

I also am being honest with the fact that I have so many insecurities. I’m never good enough. I can always do better. I hate the way I look. These are the things internally I have been dealing with every, single, day. So I keep people at a distance so they can’t see the person I really am.

It’s been almost 2 weeks now and my heart has been opened. There’s room now. And it’s allowed me to be honest and open about things I would normally never talk about.

Last year I went through a period in my life where I just wanted to give up. I was diagnosed as depressed, I was put on medication, and I had to go and speak to my doctor once a month and be monitored. Things ended up getting better, as they always do. I had my wife to support me and stand by my side. But I still was never able to talk to her about some of the thoughts that went through my head. I was finally able to do that this week and it felt so freeing.

I’m able to speak openly and honestly now in a, mostly, positive way. The truth is what it is, and I don’t advocate lying, but it doesn’t have to be said in a hurtful way. Tact is something I’ve always been told I lack, and I’m working on it now. Other people’s feelings matter.

The biggest thing I’m working on though is guilt. And that involves forgiving myself, which I am having a harder time doing.

I had a good childhood and had a lot of opportunities placed in front of me. And yet I ended up being this angry person.

My wife on the other hand didn’t have it so easy, and yet she was the kindest person ever when we got married. Forgave everyone, gave them chances and opportunities, stopped to listen and understand. But after being married for almost 10 years now she started to be more like me. Pushing people away because I didn’t like them. Avoiding her family because it was easier than dealing with me being grouchy. And she eventually became this person she doesn’t even recognize anymore.

But I do recognize that person. That person is me. Or rather, that person is who I used to be.

And it’s not fair to her because she truly is an amazing person. But because I have been so selfish she has suffered. She’s now as lonely as I am.

What kind of husband was I?

Not a very good one. But because she is such an amazing woman she has always been there by my side. And always forgiving me when I’m just a stupid jerk.

So this change is for her, as much if not more as it is for me. Because it’s not too late to be the best husband I can be. It’s not too late to be a good friend.

This past week has been a rollercoaster for us. We have gotten to this point now where honesty IS the best policy. So we have been telling each other everything. Instead of assuming, we ask. Instead of getting mad, we try to understand. She’s said things, I’ve said things, but we have been honest with each other. And we now get to grow from it.

And I’m glad I had this revelation before I lost one of the best things in my life.

I was a terrible person. My problems with people have stemmed from my attitude towards them. If I were just understanding, and patient, and kind, I might not feel so alone today.

I need to let people in. Literally. So I open my doors to my friends and family who I have pushed out before. To my family, I’m sorry for being such a jerk. For having a better-than-thou attitude. To A’s family, I’m sorry that you felt like you couldn’t come around when I was around. She needs you in her life. And I would be glad to have you around. Spend time with us, spend the night, be together again.

The first step in recovery is acceptance. I will not be that man I was before. No, you know what, I wasn’t much of a man. I will be a man now. I will be proud of who I am, and I will be someone others are proud to know.

I love you all, as much as I have shown otherwise in the past.

K~