Ok So The Holidays Long Gone... However....

Ok so it's a few months after the Christmas season and so much has gone on since warm turkey dinner's. What I do remember about this past Christmas is the over overwhelming feeling that I needed a break from everything. School and work were swallowing me up and I wished I was at a cabin in the woods with no phone or computer or for that matter any form of technology. Instead I had to work like crazy to keep my head above water. One of the few nights I did get to relax was Christmas we went over to my uncle's house for dinner, everyone bringing some yummy treat to share, nothing like a huge family potluck and silliness to help re-fuel my soul. It was also really special as it was my boyfriend Morgan's first time spending the holidays with my family. It went well I got the expected questions about school and the disbelieving glances that it would amount to anything. I also go no help from my ever loving family to set up some nice family pictures. It does not matter if your considered a photographer from everyone else they still see me as a little girl. Needless to say every photo of my grandmother was of her sticking out her tongue at me. Once I kind of gave up on the photo's and just relaxed the evening went more smoothly.The best part of the evening for me was watching my dad play a game where he had to hum a song and we had to guess the title it was so funny that all 20ish so people were in tears. What Christmas reminded me of was that in my family a good sense of humor is priceless and I would try to remember that over the next few months when things got to be overwhelming again. The lesson was to play and to be silly as that was the best stress  relief that I could ask for.   

WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

 I had a friend ask me what I learned so far this year. How can I respond to such a question.... I told her this  silly story to start off the explanation. I have always felt a connection to bears so when I get stressed out all I want to do what I call bear caving or hiding in my den (not great for helping with my creativity). When I get angry or frustrated I want to give someone or something a bear swipe  ( not so good for my computer). This year though I have felt like I am a bear constantly standing in the middle of a really big wind tunnel, my ears folded down and turned back which makes it harder to hear everything I should and my face looks like my cheeks are going to blow right off my eyes squeezed shut  watering from all the wind not so good for seeing and understanding all information hurtling my way. The good thing is that I have a good solid grip with my claws on a solid tree so I'm not budging I am going to get through this wind tunnel I'm just not sure what I am going to look like or remember after I have survived it. Then I just thought it might be  more helpful to list my top 20 things I learned this year. So here I go....

1. Be extremely nice to your friends so when you ask them to help you at 2 in the morning with a photo shoot they will say yes.

2. Don't be green with envy. Just because there are days you think your stuff sucks and everyone else's work is way better then yours, chances are they also have similar days and have also felt the same about your work.

3. Take the time to look to explore in places you would never have thought of for a photo shoot such as a salvage yard you would be surprised at how creative a new place can make you. 

4. Don't be afraid to get dirty. We are so use to looking at things from one height that a simple modification like getting on the ground can give you a new cool perspective. 

5. When you need some extra fun take a day trip with some friends sometimes it helps to have them around to bounce idea's off each other. 

6. I found on days I was really stressed and or it was minus arctic ass outside in the middle of winter, I often went to the conservatory in the park it helped to be around green again and seemed to always lift my spirits. 

7. When renting gear from the school DO NOT have multiple cameras in your pockets and around your neck and lean way over the animal cages. Chances are you will drop one on the other side of the fence... thank goodness for tall friends and it being a gofer area and not the lions den.. 

8. Zoom Burst Rock

9. When shooting very late at night outdoors with lot's of expensive camera equipment maybe it 's not such a great idea to go alone and to not tell anyone where you are.  Just saying...

 10. You can even make a potato look romantic using cool lighting techniques and some imagination.  

11. Taking pictures of small children when you don't have the right lighting or fast enough lens is not a fun thing to do, there will be tears and they will not all be from the 2 year old.

12. Just because your a professional photographer does not mean that your family will make it any easier  for you to get that good shot.  

13. Getting together with other photographers and well trained make up artists can result in great photography.

14. Being open minded to other peoples idea's can help you get new and cool results. Also doing favors for others such as hairdressers or Make Up Artist can help when you networking.

15. Pay attention to line, form, colour, shape and texture it makes all the difference. 

16. Using   gels can create some depth and interest in an otherwise boring object.

17. Doing something your passionate is extremely important. 

18. Shooting a product may look simple but is in fact extremely difficult and you need to pay attention to all the little details.

19. Wear the proper clothes when shooting outdoors it will make life so much better. 

20. I have so much more to learn but now at least I am starting to understand that learning is forever so it does not seem so intimidating.