“You’re right, sweet babe.”  I whispered as I kissed her little cheeks.   I took her hand and walked out into the living room to be what I love doing most,  a mom.    I couldn’t help but notice my environment.  Piles of laundry, dishes in the sink, dust on the most unusual places, and at times I’m lucky to get a shower in.  Kids are hungry, diapers are waiting, husband is usually babysitting, and the home is a mess.    I  have been overbooked.  I have been stressed, and I’ve been completely paralyzed from the neck down.  My passion for photography has made me go nuts.  Literally.  My focus has been on completing pictures to satisfy clients, and all the while, my baby girls and sweet  and supportive husband have been patiently waiting for me to return.

So why do I bring this up?  I have had sisters, friends, and loved ones in the last couple months tell me about their starting visions of their own photography passions.  I cannot help but be thrilled for them, but at the same time, I want to warn them.  Photography is addicting.  It’s thrilling, and it’s incredibly rewarding.  You will get frustrated, you will get discouraged, and you will suffer by comparison.  You will lose sleep, you will always want more equipment, and you will most likely get bags under your eyes from staying up in the wee hours of the morning editing while your children are tucked away in their beds.

My little girls will only be “little” for so long.    I only have but a short amount of time to teach them, to develop a much needed friendship with them, and to show them that I do more than sit at the computer and edit photographs.   I will always love the camera, and I will always have the passion for photography.  But sometimes, we, mothers, need a little soft lesson…even if it’s from a three year old.

Jake taught that an individual is either floating or drowning.  There is no “in between” as an artist. As I frantically scribbled down every word of brilliance, I couldn’t help but reflect on a conversation I had with my husband a few weeks before.

“I have a headache.  In fact, I’ve had a headache for quite some time.  Why?  I’ve been hitting my head against the wall out of desperation to find a new leaf.  Change is calling my name.”

Cue the Jake Garn experience, a “thinking-outside-the-box” photographer who is willing to inspire those around him to find themselves.  Cue Ryan Muirhead, a photographer with zany fashion sense and crazy personality that encourages creativity.  Cue others like Steven Wood , a photographer that seriously blows my mind.  Cue Angie Monson, a photographer that thousands of her followers can only dream of becoming.  Cue Dave Brewer or John Paul, a photographer and finely gifted videographer.  And cue new friends like  Leah Ferguson or Amanda Nelson or Becky Earl, a sweet and sassy girl that isn’t into photography for the business, only for the passion.

Ingredients to a perfect day:  models, makeup, wardrobe, stylists, strobes, hot lights, friends, and fulfillment.  This could not have been a more perfect slap to the face for me and a passion.  Stay tuned for studio images, but in the meantime Jake, if you were here, I’d hug you.