Changing Direction - Where I’m Headed
I’m pretty sure I was meant to have my life figured out by the time I was 25.
Actually, that might be a bit of an overstatement - I’m pretty sure I thought I’d have life figured out as soon as I moved out, and started ACTING like an adult. But… life had other plans…
And I fought it. Hard. I figured that if I just kept struggling along, eventually, I’d catch up to that “adult life” I thought I was aiming for - even though I didn’t know exactly what that was.
But here I am, 42, and just finding my path now. And truthfully, I’m not sure if it’s harder now - with 3 kids and responsibilities but full access to the internet and all I can learn - or if it was harder when I was younger - the internet was just in it’s infancy itself but I had no major responsibilities.
Any which way - playing the “coulda, shoulda, woulda” game never got anyone anywhere - so I’m just going to focus on doubling down in the direction I want to go.
SO WHY SHARE THIS? WHY PULL THE “DEAR DIARY” STYLE BLOG POST NOW?
Because I have always looked to others for advice. For a light at the end of the tunnel. For inspiration. For teachers to show me the way. (Still pretty gutted I never got my Hogwarts invitation, tbh, even though I’m much older than the generation that SHOULD believe in that…).
And I feel like it’s kind of a responsibility to throw some breadcrumbs behind me in case anyone else is travelling this road. I might not have a road map, but I know I’m getting closer to my goals, and one thing I’ve appreciated from other creators, is being able to go back over their old posts or video’s and see the progression they have made. It makes it more believable than the “overnight success” story of everything looking so nice and polished.
ANYWAY…
After a LOT of photographing things, I’ve finally figured out the direction I want to take my photography in - and it revolves around People and Passion. And no, I’m not talking about wedding photography! lol.
Actually, I’m talking about business and brand photography for small businesses that are actually still passionate about what they are bringing to the world. I want to photograph stories, events, lifestyle, products - and the people behind all of this.
UNFORTUNATELY I DON’T HAVE PERMISSION AT THIS TIME TO POST ANY IMAGES OF THE EVENT, BUT IT WAS A PRIVELEDGE AND AN HONOUR TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND CAPTURE THE DAY.
I HAD THE PRIVELEDGE AND HONOUR OF PHOTOGRAPHING AN EVENT FOR OUR LOCAL FIRE BRIGADE RECENTLY…
A beautiful gentleman and his wife who have been a part of the local brigade for 50 years! (Plus kids and grandkids that had grown up supporting him too!) Not only was he an active member for most of that time, as an engineer he created solutions to problems that are now New Zealand wide - I can only imagine the impact this one man has had on so many lives saved in the last 50 years, either directly or indirectly!
He was a joy to photograph (and it helped that he had known my Grandpa and that made me warm to him immediately! lol), but so was the entire event. And it really made me realise and appreciate that these photo’s were sent world wide to his children and grandchildren that couldn’t make it to the event - they really are legacy images of an incredible man, and they not only captured him and his family and the people present - one day, in 200 years time - his great, great, great, great grandkids are going to be able to look back at this event, and know what an incredible lineage they come from.
How special is that to be a part of?
MY PARTNER IN CRIME - WHO NEEDED SOME PORTFOLIO SHOTS FOR HIS ACTING AGENT. I TOOK THE LIBERTY TO SHOOT A FEW EXTRAS, WHICH ENDED UP BEING THE ONES WE SENT OFF!
AND PEOPLE. AND FACES. AND CAPTURING PEOPLES FACES AND GETTING THE BEST VERSION OF THEM…
Some of the nicest compliments I’ve had since doing this, all essentially fall into the same bucket: “you captured me really well - I don’t normally like photo’s of myself!”.
And it’s so beautiful to capture people when they’re not expecting it.
I realised early on in my photography journey that I wanted more than just to do this as a hobby. And it’s so great to see my way through.
It combines my love of people doing what they’re passionate about, with portraiture, with storytelling, and all wound up with helping other people achieve their dreams! Plus, i get to make pretty pictures along the way. ;)
So - although I’ll continue to keep taking lots of photo’s of LOTS of things - my focus is going to be on Brand photography for small businesses. And a lot more of my content will be focused in that direction too moving foward.
I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me. <3
