empowerment – Life, Love & Passion Through the Lens

I have been seriously at this photography thing for several years now, and decided I needed to come up with a mission statement of what I am about and what I want to provide to clients. It took me several months to think about it and to actually put pen to paper and to develop it exactly how I feel; finally I wrote it out; so here it is:

“I aspire through my photography to empower my clients to look and feel incredible, to create beautiful images, and to build lasting relationships with those who step in front of my camera.”

I feel this statement really epitomizes who I am as a human and what I want to portray as a photographer. I realize I will not get every client who inquires about my services and I’m ok with that, because it only means they were not the client for me. My style is easy going, yet in control of my environment and can handle the most stressful of situations. I know how to make people feel comfortable around me and in doing so I get the responses I’m looking for through my lens. My belief is you reap what you sow and if you are comfortable, your client(s) will be as well.

You have to genuinely love people and they have to feel this about you to be completely comfortable. I see beauty in each of my clients (male & female) and I get so excited when I know I have taken beautiful images.

I’ve seen photographers take on projects they should have never jumped into, because either they have not developed enough skills or the right attitude or they simply are not aware of what it takes to provide great customer service to the client. I have actually seen client bashing and that is unacceptable to me. My clients are incredible and I love each and every one of them. I treat them with respect and give them more than they expected. I know what it takes to be in front of a camera, it’s not easy because you expose your entire self to the world. The photographer’s job is to capture the beauty that is truly you. Be it bride, groom, families, or individual portrait; male or female.

To those I have had the privilege of photographing, thank you and to those who have yet stepped before my camera, I look forward to meeting you and thank you for trusting me enough to show the world your beauty.

One of the most difficult things for me as a photographer is to be comfortable in front of the camera. My job is to make my clients comfortable and to allow them to relax so that I can show them how beautiful they really are. Now fast forward to this Mother’s Day weekend, here I am with my photographer youngest son who is going to take me on a journey of self discovery in front of the camera. I trust him fully as he knows me better than anyone, and knows how I feel about being in front of the lens instead of behind it. This is where my journey of self-discovery and empowerment begins. We took off for behind his place of residence which is within the Big Cypress Preserve, we were sure to be alone and I could really try and let go without anyone but him watching me. At first I felt awkward and out of control, but soon I started to really enjoying the attention. His gentle coaxing me into posing was exactly what I needed. Tommy has an incredible artistic eye and was able to pull things from me, no one else would be able to do. I had him use my camera and even though he was a bit uncomfortable at first he soon took charge and got the images we were both wanting. I can tell you as a woman who battles her weight and looks, I was totally out of my comfort zone with this.

Six months out of a destructive relationship where I never felt good enough or attractive enough, I have found who I really am; a beautiful over 50 woman! I also realized if someone does not like how I look or my size, it’s not my problem, it’s theirs and I will not allow anyone male or female to make me feel less than I am. It’s not my concern if they are too shallow and/or insecure and must make themselves feel better by being destructive with someone else’s feelings. I control my own emotional weather.

I could tell by my son’s excitement that he was capturing magic, and I was getting more excited to see what he had taken. He would stop now and then and show me an image he really liked. My goal as a photographer is to make women feel beautiful and to show them the images I create on their behalf is who they really are. I made New Year’s resolution for 2014 to be more authentic and to live my life being more open and expressing who I am as a woman. I have my friend Karen Ziegler to thank for opening my eyes to this revelation and in doing so I have become the happiest I’ve been in years and I’m no longer afraid for people to see the ‘real’ me which has made me stronger and I what I want in life.

My passion is to present to woman just like me, a way to show their beauty. I purposely didn’t edit my photos to show I have freckles, eyes that disappear when I laugh and I am not a size 2, but I love how I look and I love who I am. I am a real woman full of life and ready to take on whatever God has for me. My past is simply that, my past and my future is going to be exciting, but my NOW is amazing and I would not change anything.

So o all the beautiful ladies reading this, I encourage you to go out and enjoy a full photo session, find a photographer you like and are comfortable with and let go of all your fears and foremost be real, show the world how beautiful you are. Ladies Empower yourself, live authentically and never allow anyone to treat you less than you deserve. Until next time, I will catch you behind the lens.

Here are a few of my images

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