Why Photography?
I’ve had many people ask me why I picked up a camera and made photography into a profession.
When I made the decision to take photography to a professional level, I did so with one goal in mind: “to be true to my own voice and artistic vision.” Part of this goal was to not only be honest through my lens, but to be vulnerable on other levels. It’s here that I will share the how and why of my journey.
During the years I ran my fine art studio, I fell into the trap of painting for monetary gain. I found myself creating art which did not come from my soul. I fell into the trap of painting for what the market was asking for. I tried to squeeze into a mold which I never quite fit into. I was like the step sisters in Cinderella. As much as I pushed and pulled, the shoe would not slip on. My public art did not represent my true artistic voice. I kept what came from my heart for the walls of my own home. I was not confident enough to present the real me to the public.
On New Year’s morning of 2010, I found myself in the ER. At 3 months, I miscarried my baby. A depression came over me like I had not known before. My cure for easing melancholy prior had been to paint. With my 4 and 2 year old boys running around and pulling on me, I found painting more of a challenge than a relief. I also found that sitting with myself for too long left more opportunity for thinking, which I wanted to avoid.
So I picked up my Canon Rebel, plunked Kaleb and Konnor in the car and drove until I found a place which looked perfect to take photos. Photography was always in my blood. I was constantly the person with the camera at every occasion. Remember, this was also before having a camera on your cell phone was common place. It took real effort to bring a camera to events. Prior to this time, photography had been about documenting events and people in my life. Photography now became a cathartic avenue for my despair. My boys were my muse and I would create art with them.
Lucky for me, this was also the time when Facebook really began to sweep the country and world. I began to post the photos I was taken of my boys. People began to ask if I would take photos of their kids and family because they liked what I was doing with my children. The thrust which would propel me into taking photography to the next level came from a comment made from an artist friend. “Wendy, as good of an artist as you are, you are a much better photographer. You have something special here.”
Having run a successful small business with my art gave me a leg up in moving my photography from a hobby to a profession. I kept my profession name the same (Wendy Kathleen) but moved it from Art to Photography. I was the same person after all; I had just changed my artistic pallet and my vision.
I immersed myself in every photography book I could get my hands on. I met with professional photographers to learn the tricks of the trade. I watched hours of tutorials on post editing techniques. All the while I was learning, I kept my focus; to photograph only what my heart told me. This time around, I would use my own artistic voice and not follow the current trends. I knew not everyone would be fond of what I was doing and I might never make a cent at photography, but at least I would be true to myself this time.
Slowly I began to book clients, my portfolio took shape and my online presence began to grow.
The end of the teaching school year was approaching. The AP studio art portfolios were all turned in and grades were posted. I had lost a baby at the start of the year, but found myself with child again (Kingston). I was looking forward to a summer with my pregnant feet up.
My summer relaxation was cut short, when I was informed on the last day of school that because of budget cuts they were closing the drawing and painting program. The district was relocating me to a new high school and I would be teaching digital photography.
Teaching is a challenge. Teaching in the arts is especially difficult as you do not have a set curriculum or book to pull from. It is just you. Being pregnant, moving schools and teaching a new subject which I had never taught was going to be huge undertaking. Before my anxiety could get the better of me, I realized that maybe all this had been a part of Gods plan. I was reminded for an analogy I had heard:
Life is like a tapestry. We see the underside where the colors crisscross in random patterns and strings are tied in ugly knots. Nothing makes sence. God sees the top of the tapestry which is beautiful and perfect. In order to create the tapestry he has to cross strings and tie things into knots. We don’t see until the end why the underside has to look as it does.
If I had not lost the baby I would not have picked up a camera. Picking up the camera led to the start of a wonderful and fulfilling new business. If I had not learned photography prior to losing my job I would not have been able to properly teach my new students. God had a plan that I could not see from the underside of the tapestry. I had to wait until it was turned over to see the beauty of the design.
The new pregnancy resulted in a bundle of joy named Kingston. Not only did our little lumps of love bring the normal bliss of a new baby, but he arrived two weeks after the passing of my Grandfather who was the patriarch of our family and my rock. Kingston helped fill the hole in our hearts left from the loss of Grandpa. The timing of his birth seemed orchestrated from above.
(Shout Out: we had a silhouette cutter at Kingston’s party. The silhouettes of my 3 little miracles. Thanks Nacy)
http://www.silhouettesbynancie.com/
(Shout Out: we had an ice cream truck come just for Kingston and our guests. Thanks Screaming Ice Cream!)
As I sit here editing and posting the photos celebrating Kingston’s first birthday I have been brought full circle. This was a celebration on many levels. This little boy who came into our lives brought us more delight then we could have imagined. God has our lives in His hands and we are blessed.
