Tag Archives: life

What Made You Want to Go Into Photography?

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Yesterday one of my blog friends asked me this question and with my Wednesday Words post coming up the next day I new I had my topic.

What made you want to go into photography?

The short answer is that when I was in high school my mom called out my passion for it and told me I had an eye for it.  But the long answer is way better…

When I was a Freshman in High School my family took a trip out west.  They picked me up from summer youth camp in Laramie, WY and we trekked further west in our gargantuan RV.  We called him Moby, like Moby Dick the great white whale.

We took two main stops:  Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton Mountains.  What I remember from that trip I mostly remember through the pictures I took with my little Canon point and shoot and journaling.  I don’t remember specifics other than that it was a little silver camera.  But that little camera and I captured a lot of beauty on that trip.  After I got pictures printed I remember my mom looking at them and telling me I had an eye for photography and that she saw I really enjoyed it.  Leave it to Mom to point out that I carried that camera everywhere and, unlike most kids, was more interested in photographing life from weird angles with intentional framing than photographing with my friends.

A couple of years later I took the best class I have ever taken, Yearbook, with Mr. McCallum.  McCallum, I hope you are reading this because any time I talk about why I do what I do I always say something about how your class was the most influential class I have ever taken.  It ignited a passion in me and taught me all of the most important tools and tips I use in my writing today.  In this class I mostly learned about how to write a good journalistic story.  He taught us all about “Be verbs” and storytelling.  That year I won a state yearbook award for a piece I did about a local haunted house.  That simple award pushed me to the realization that maybe writing wasn’t just something I loved doing but something I could be good at.  I also shot the pictures for that story so when the end of the year rolled in McCallum asked me to be a part of the editing staff as either a section editor or a photo editor.  I had a choice.  At that point I knew I loved designing layouts, writing, and copy editing as a “job” but I didn’t know if I would like photography as a “job.”  So, for adventure’s sake, I chose the position of photography editor.

The next year, my senior year, I hit the school scene with my camera always at my side.  I attended events of all kinds and relished photographing every event I was assigned to.  I specifically remember feeling so honored being on the sidelines at the football games, bantering with the guys and with my fellow ninja photographer, Eli.  Only a few months into taking photography assignments I knew I was home.  So I dumped out my pile of college information and selected only the schools with at least two or three photography classes.  My mom and I took an extended weekend in the fall of 2006 and toured my midwest choices.  Judson University was the last school of that tour and not only was I completely underwhelmed by the other schools, but Judson captivated me.  I remember specifically loving the quaint campus, the prospect of being close to Chicago, the Ugandan study abroad option, our tour guide Jaimee Bartha, and something far less material.  This school wasn’t my ultimate ideal, I did really want a rigorous photography program and Judson could only give me two photography classes, but I felt the Holy Spirit asking me to trust in Him and commit to this school.  By October of 2006 only a few short weeks after my tour, I was fully enrolled for a double major in Visual Communications with an emphasis in photography and Media Studies with an emphasis in writing.

I continued through my senior year at Buffalo High School soaking up every minute behind my camera and was so engaged in my college credit courses.  But the capstone of my whole year came at the end of the basketball season when our guys not only made it to state for the first time in 80 some years but they won it.  Each of their games Eli and I sported special press passes like all the big shots with their expensive cameras and official jobs.  We sat with them on the sidelines of the Metrodome courts like equals.

In the spring of 2007 I hit the books, or, rather, my sketchbook, hard.  For the first time in my life I gave up sports for school as I quickly discovered the art program would demand all of my energy.  And, just like in high school, I quickly became known as the girl with the camera.

At the end of my four years I graduated with a major in General Art and a minor in Writing.  My senior show was a photographic examination of water (CLICK HERE to see that project).  My plans of graduating with a photography major fell away when I fell in love with Joshua.  I even visited other schools intending on transferring but when he asked me to stay I simply couldn’t deny him.  But I’m glad I did, because I finished at Judson I also fell in love with engaging with photography as art.  I learned I love marrying my passion for biology and art together in fine art photography.

My photography business wove itself neatly, but discreetly into my life.  I started booking random sessions with families and seniors the summer after my freshman year of college as a way to make a few extra bucks.  Again, this idea came from my mom.  The last semester of my senior year at Judson I quit my part-time job at Starbucks and launched “a Sunshine Moment” full time.  I shot my first wedding a few months later at Hotel Baker.  And then the dreaminess of the job died.  That wedding met me head on with every technical difficulty and misstep.  And the rest of the summer on the job gave no respite.  Building a business identity and client base is hard and I dreaded every wedding and session until I arrived on location; however, when I arrived at each shoot I bloomed with excitement and creativity.

I approached the next wedding season, last year, full of apprehension.  I was nervous I would dread every shoot again, especially since I was booked for around 25 weddings and ongoing portrait sessions.  There was no turning back at this point.  But, lo and behold, I hit the photo scene full stride and brimming with confidence.

And now, here I am, working from home and supporting my family with my photography.  I thank God so often for providing me with the means to do the work I am so passionate about, especially right out of school.  a Sunshine Moment certainly was a leap of faith; self-employment and owning a business is not for the faint of faith.  Yet I cherish every moment of it because it is so much easier to see God’s provision and faithfulness without the guarantee of a steady paycheck.  I am also so thankful for His gift of some key people.  If it weren’t for my mom calling out a gift in me and encouraging me to run with it, McCallum giving me a chance to grow and test my passion, and Josh’s continued support and encouragement there is no way I would be here.  Parents and teachers play such a vital role; by encouraging your kids and students into their gifts and passions you grant them the greatest treasure, work they love!

A New Level of Selfishness

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The last few days of the Redeemed Tour I was struck by some intense loneliness.  I longed for a friend to come talk to me and love on me.  I texted and called and sent Facebook messages but no one seemed available.  I knew that it was finals week so those friends were busy doing that and I knew my other friends had their hands full with things related to their spouses having their finals week or that their own families were generally consuming their attention for various, and very legitimate, reasons.  None-the-less, I was depressingly lonely and at a loss for how to amend it.

In a place of complete aloneness I was suddenly struck by a desire to do my very best to be there for my alone friends even when I’m not alone.  Because of this encounter I became painfully aware that it’s not exactly selfish to be forgetful of your friends because of your hyper focus on your own family or life but, since your family is an extension of you, not focusing your attention outside your family is actually selfish.

When I got married I wanted to be different from some of the marriages that broke up friendships.  It seemed to me marriage caused the couple to become exclusive to each other or other couples.  I wanted to be a married woman who not only welcomed single friends but really sought to be the best friend I could be to them by being there for them.

When Josh and I have kids I share a similar desire to the one above. I too often see that family units become a different level of exclusiveness.  I see these exclusive families serving their kids every second of the day but forgetting to reach outside their family bubble.  Serving your spouse and kids is a wonderful, needed thing, but maybe God intended for us to take all the self-sacrificing we learn in marriage and with raising kids out past our family confines in order to better love on those around us.  I want to be the kind of family that welcomes others into our family as if they are our own.  I want to continue to be there for my single and married but childless friends.

Last week I was unbearably lonely.  But as much as I was bummed I couldn’t get a hold of someone to hang out with me I was even more bummed at myself for too often not being there for my friends.  I certainly couldn’t blame anyone for not being there for me if I couldn’t show up and be a great friend first.  I was so personally convicted by how selfish I still am.  Now I can only hope that my experience last week will serve as the catalyst for a major change in my own heart.  I want to be an incredible wife and business owner but I also want to be a better daughter, friend, mentor, and sister.  I want to be there for those I love whenever they need me.  It’s going to be a challenge but I will hope and pray with all my might that I can make the change.  Besides, it’s not only better for the ones I pay attention too but it is much better for me.  I have found that by focusing inward on yourself or your family builds a closed and festering outlook on life.  And I have also found that by focusing my attention not on me and my own but on others, I not only seem to have more time to serve them but I find I have more joy.

Created to be Creative

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I am an artist.  As an artist I show my work at various galleries on occasion and when I do I always encounter a person or two who approaches me in a sort of state of awe.  Not necessarily about my work, but about the work of having created something.  There is a group of people, perhaps even the majority, that think they are not creative.  I’ve also come to understand that this group of people thinks there are two groups of people:  creative and not creative.  I don’t believe that.  The simple truth is that we were created by the Master of Creativity and if we are made in His image, which we are, then we are not only all capable of creativity, but I would assert that we are all called to be creative.

I am not suggesting that everyone go out and buy a camera or pick up a paint brush.  I am suggesting, however, that each of us uses our innate creativity to bring beauty into our every day, ordinary lives.  Such ordinary circumstances like parenting, marriage, your home, your routine, work, dating, and eating are all areas that can, and should, be subjected to your art of creativity.

Creative Parenting

Parenting is often the root of a mommy and daddy’s existence for approximately 18 years.  I am not an ordinary parent, but I do parent two dogs and it is similar in a lot of ways.  I have found each dog to be so different in personality and demeanor, so much so that they require completely different methods of “parenting.”  I go into depth about the differences in discipline and love languages from dog to dog, or Haley to Sam, HERE.

In my case of parenting my dogs I have transformed a simple walk into a field trip to the park buried in the back of the neighborhood.  Here I can let them off the leash to romp about and play fetch.  I have also transformed the art of a “walk” itself on the occasion I strap on my roller blades and let the dogs pull me all around the neighborhood.

In the case of parenting children the same can be done.  It’s all  about transforming the daily, normal activities and making them not only more exciting and tailored to your children but perhaps even more exciting and tailored to you so you can better enjoy that time with them.  You could transform making meals into family collaboration.  In my experience kids love to be a part of the food making process.  Especially if it involves making something sweet 😉  Or maybe you could transform the bedtime routine into a game – make it a timed race, see who can pick out the craziest pajamas, cleanest teeth contest, etc.

Creating a Creative Marriage

I am married.  Josh and I have discovered that we do best when we customize the way we love to make our counterpart feel it to the full.  I’ve found that the days I’m feeling entitled to being loved a certain way by him are actually the days it is best to focus that attention outward and go out of my way to love on him.  A great way to get started in creatively and intentionally loving your spouse is by picking up Love Dare at your library or buy it (so you can mark it all up).  A less creative although very important way to create a creative marriage is by building each other up in some basic needs like prayer, going to church, dreaming together, budgeting together and MORE.  Once those basic needs are taken care of and you not only have your heart set in the right place but by going to God with your problems you will often find suddenly a creative solution is placed before you and by doing these simple things together you will find you are suddenly inspired to love more and to love better.

Creativity in your Home Space

A home is your habitat.  It is the place that is perhaps the only place you can call your own.

In nature I see so many intentional home builders.  Some male birds build nests to impress the lady they have their eye on, bees build a crazy awesome infrastructure of cubbies, beavers build dams with paramount precision, ants build ridiculously ornate infrastructures of pathways and niches, male clown fish have the job of picking out the prettiest available anemone for their mate and babies to live safely, and that’s just the cherry on the giant, seemingly infinite, sundae of creative home spaces within nature!

So, then, why is it that people often completely neglect the aesthetics of their home?  Now, wives, please to do not bring my article to you hubby and declare, “see, we do need that China hutch I’ve been eyeing!”  No, but I do advocate setting a budget to fix up the place and make any necessary purchases to bring your home to life.  And, more than that, I recommend getting creative with what you already have and see if you can’t repurpose or refurbish things you already own. I just recently finished my own Remaking Home project to infuse creativity within my home space so if you want some inspiration or motivation CLICK HERE to read more about that 🙂

Creativity in your Routine

I once read somewhere that to inspire creativity one of the best places to start is your daily routine.  I am a creature of habit in so many ways so I understand those of you who feel hesitant to give this a try.  However, I have found that with an appropriate ratio of structure and flux my needs to keep a sense of balance and inspire creativity are both met thoroughly.  For example, I set aside Mondays and Thursdays aside for a Sunshine Moment business matters and photo editing; on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I attend to business and blogging in the morning and then I devote the rest of my day to writing, homesteading, researching, or any number of other creative adventures I want to commit to (my areas of flux); Saturdays are reserved for booking shoots and more a Sunshine Moment; and Sundays I maintain as my Sabbath (another area of wonderful flux) and I never miss church unless I absolutely can’t help it.  So there, now you are all too well-informed about my daily work life 🙂

Creative Dating

Josh and I have found that our best memories are of times when we did something a little outside the box or used our money in a creative way.  Maybe there’s a free concert in the park, or maybe you want to go get ice cream, or maybe you can go on a picnic.  Get out and have some fun or stay in and invent a new activity.  The standard dinner and a movie date is particularly rockin’ when you don’t do it all the time 🙂

Creative Eating

This one is simple.  We eat every day.  Those of us that have a passion for food this is your area to get creative!  Spice up your salad, soup, sandwich, or otherwise sumptuous meal with a pop of color, a prop, placement, or presentation 🙂

These, of course, are just a few ways to spice up your life with a little creativity.  There are so many other areas of life that you can concentrate on and make them special.  I know you will find some amazing fruits out of the extra “labor” you put in!

The Man with the Pretty Garden

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There are so many times in life when I feel I am all too undeserving of thoughful acts of kindness.

Josh and I live in a slightly shady neighborhood.  In fact, our next door neighbor had a burglar last summer. But I’ve found that any crazies stay away in the during the day.  This is important to me because I love to be outside and so do my furry lovers.  I take them for walks in the neighborhood almost every day.  Our favorite part of this walk is the park that is buried in the back corner of the neighborhood.  We always route our course to go there because when we get there I’m usually able to let the dogs off the leash to run around free for a while.  I’ve got my timing down like a science so that I’m sure to walk them when I know the park will be vacant or mostly vacant.

In this park there is a baseball field and this is where Haley and I like to play fetch.  After an exhilarating 100 rounds of retrieval she is parched and at the far end of the field there is a large garden with bird baths lingering at its fringe.  When we first started this walking habit Haley would suddenly ditch me and her stick to go gaze longingly at the bird baths, knowing they held water.

A few walks later I found one of those bird baths moved to the ground.  I wasn’t sure but I thought that maybe the man with the pretty garden was very observant and saw my thirsty pups.

Well today, about one year later, I saw that same bird bath in its now usual place in addition to another funny looking water holder and a very distinct dog dish full of water.  All of these water vestibules had recently been filled as little droplets still clung to the sides.  Along side this plethora of water options was a small pile of hardy sticks.  I have a hard time believing that all wasn’t intentional and my heart is so touched by this man’s very thoughtful gift.

The rest of my walk I contemplated ways to get a note of thanks to him for his kindness.  Maybe there will be more on that later.

Happy Saturday!

Battling Ill Will

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Sometimes there are moments in life when someone wrongs you or takes advantage of you.  And then at the next turn God clearly requests you not only forgive them but move forward by afflicting them with abundant kindness.  I am in the middle of one of those moments today.

I was in the middle of fuming about a scenario when I was wronged as a professional when I broke away from my computer to do my lunch time routine of food and devos.  When I grabbed my Bible I was longing for the comfort I knew it would provide and how it would set my heart straight.  I got that and more.  Here’s what I read…

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

And now I am thanking God for setting my heart straight, giving me the answer to the thoughts running through my mind, and praying that He will give me the strength to battle my own ill will and unleash kindness, mercy, and love when I am face to face with the object of my bitterness later today.  Then my reading from last night pops into my head…

“Remember – the Lord doesn’t give you strength, Hezekiah.  He is your strength” (Song of Redemption, 33).

I’ve prayed for strength a lot.  But I suppose I should be praying I simply drop my pride and lean on His strength that’s already there waiting for me to claim it.

Happy Wednesday!  Thanks for reading my words.