When I started my journey as a photographer the only thing I knew was that I LOVED taking pictures. My husband bought me my first camera shortly after our daughter was born in 2012 and I was determined to be as good as that photographer that I had admired for so long. It was settled, I came up with a name, bought a logo, made business cards, ect. I was now running my own business.
I was advertising on Facebook groups that I was a newbie and wanting to learn as much as I could and I needed some models. I ended up getting a client who would forever be a friend and support me to this day. Looking back, the images I took of her were horrible, but she loved them so much! Which gave me that boost of confidence to continue and move on to the next step. I spend countless hours in front of my laptop reading tutorials, watching youtube videos, editing the same picture over and over.
As the months went by, I could see an improvement with every photo shoot I would have. I just kept getting better. I thought to myself "wow, hard work really pays off in the end."
That's when it began, the drama. I was getting photographers whom I have never even heard of commenting on my clients images saying they sucked, I would never be good enough, I needed to just quit, your just another fake or mom with a camera. Deep in the back of my mind I knew this wasn't true, I knew I wasn't the best or even that great but I knew I had talent and I was willing to work hard and prove them wrong. That didn't stop it from hurting though. I would quickly delete these comments and ban these photographers but it didn't seem to stop. My images were being reported, people were sharing my page saying how bad I was, it got horrible and I was to my breaking point. I wanted to quit, shut down my page, sell my camera and just give up. I just didn't have it in me to look at anymore of those comments.
A few days later I wanted to get some pictures of my daughter, so as I was just snapping away at her cute little smiling face, it hit me. I couldn't give up. I thought to myself. I want to be someone my daughter can be proud of, look up too and be a positive role model in her life. She needs to know its ok to follow her dreams no matter who or what stands in her way.
From that day on, I began to take the negative and turn it in to a positive. Anytime someone would post something nasty on my pictures I would say to myself, "its ok, not everyone will like what you like." This got me through a lot and still does. I have the mindset that my clients book me because they like the same thing I like, I can't have every client and I know that. I get the clients I'm meant to have, the ones who see what I see and who appreciate my work and support me and trust my talent to give them exactly what they want.
I still have negative comments here and there but I don't even pay them any attention. I have found my place in photography, my strengths & weaknesses and I know exactly where I stand. If I were to listen to every negative thing that comes my way I would not be where I am today or as confident in my work as I am.
I wrote this blog post today because when I woke up this morning I saw a photography page where the person said they were giving up photography because they could not take the drama anymore. I'm sure there is someone else out there dealing with the same thing and I hope my story can help you put it aside and if photography is your dream that you continue it. Please, don't give up.
Below are a few images when I began my journey and below those are my most recent ones!
FYI for those of you who didn't know, I did have a different name when I began. I changed my name to Southern Willow Photography in December of 2013.
2012
2014
