Aurora Photography

“You can go

You can start all over again

You can try to find a way to make another day go by

You can hide

Hold all your feelings inside

You can try to carry on when all you want to do is cry

And maybe someday

We’ll figure all this out

Try to put an end to all our doubt

Try to find a way to make things better now and

Maybe someday we’ll live our lives out loud

We’ll be better off somehow

Someday

Now wait

And try to find another mistake

If you throw it all away then maybe you can change your mind

You can run, oh

And when everything is over and done

You can shine a little light on everything around you

Man it’s good to be someone.”

-Lyrics from Someday by Rob Thomas

Lately I have really been struggling with the amount of negativity I am seeing in the industry around me.  It seems that in this difficult economy, when people are struggling to just pay their bills, competitive behavior has some people acting in ways that they would not normally act. I personally struggle with these high school type politics, because I was as uncomfortable with them in high school as I am now.

When I first began my career, I immediately immersed myself into my education. I was so excited to be joining an industry that, as a member of the Professional Photographer’s Association, asks you to sign a Code of Ethics where you agree to uphold several policies regarding the field. Among those policies, the following really stood out to me:

4.      In all dealing with fellow professional photographers, students and others who aspire to be professional photographers, I shall share the knowledge and skill of professional photography.

5.      Support efforts for and assist in the education of all interested persons the general public in the art and science of professional photography.

I am proud to say that I have kept my commitment to that oath since the day that I signed it, often over extending myself to help another photographer out.  I do this, because I really believe that I can support and encourage my neighbor, because what I have to offer the world is unique.  I am the only photographer in the world who can be ME and I am, at the very least, “Different.”  I do not look to my fellow photographers to measure my success, rather  I look inward at my own goals as well to my clients for their feedback.

Unfortunately, I am also finding out that you can measure your success by the amount of people who are talking smack about you. It makes me a little sad inside to know that others feel threatened by me enough to actively work to convince others that I am a bad person. Clearly, they do not know me very well. That makes me wonder just what is wrong with those people? Don’t they have their own lives to worry about? Their own flaws to improve upon? Their own family to spend time with?  Instead of worrying about who does appreciate me for who I am, and for my skill as a photographer or teacher, perhaps they could spend all of that extra time they have on their hands improving their own skills as photographers/people in general.

Anyway, I am only human and I was feeling all bogged down by all of this crap. It makes me uncomfortable, unhappy, and was beginning to make me angry. I was feeling it all starting to change me, beginning for only a moment to allow them the win they hoped for. But to the dismay of the haters out there, it has put me in a place where I need to do something to promote change – positive change.  I won’t name names , but a wise man I spoke to recently about this said it was past due time for a big old press of the RESET button, and I could not agree more.

So here it is – I am going to start by pressing the reset button on myself. I’m going to forget about all the BS and just move forward, once again, with the pure love for the art that we create. Then, I am going to invite you to join me. I’m not sure yet where this is going to go…will it be a group? Will it be a movement? Will it be nothing more than my own silly rambling?  I’m not sure, but I know I am going to RESET and invite any who are pure of heart to come along with me!

I do this job for the love of the art, and quite honestly for the huge rush I get when I make someone feel good about themselves. At the end of the day that is the greatest reward and highest compliment I can receive – to know that I have touched your life, and made you feel special, because we all deserve to feel special.

I believe in my own ability, and that by working TOGETHER with my neighbor I can make both our businesses stronger. To me, the mathematics is simple.

More friends = more talent = more creativity= more AWESOME.

And I am all about the awesome!

Please enjoy a little slideshow of some of my favorite images, one of my new favorite songs, and the responses I got to the question….

“How do I make you feel?”

I just want to end by saying, I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!!

Thank you for being the most amazing friends, clients, and support system anyone could ever ask for. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you!

I can tell you that every single thing you said I make you feel, you make me feel amilliion times over you are what keeps me going!

To the haters, life is too short to spend so much time worrying about other people… get on with your life… I’m going to =)