We all have to face a few demons and dragons as we drive our businesses forward, but the dragon I am about to face is my own personal portrait shoot with Jenny Heyworth Photography. I have to confess the nerves kicked in, the fear took control and I was terrified. I simply wanted to run to the trees and hide until the danger had passed by. Why do we feel this way? I would value your thoughts and consideration too, as so many have told me over the years, this is how they felt too. It’s a sensitive package of emotion, triggered by expectation and perhaps knowing far too much. My main concern is letting her down, not being relaxed enough and not giving Jenny what she needs. This is madness and all of these random thoughts lead me towards thinking how the clients might feel before their wedding days or portrait shoots. Photography really matters and we all enter a shoot with expectations; my expectations so far are for one or two images, maybe three. Women are so hard on themselves, and as professionals who work in the industry, perhaps we are much harder on ourselves than the shoot truly deserves.

We all have the privilege of understanding the value and importance of pictures, more than our consumers will ever grasp, sadly they often don’t realise the value until it’s too late. The images we seek and crave are simply priceless. These feelings of fear are total madness unfounded, yet like being frightened of spiders, it’s real at the same time and it has a remarkable impact on your confidence, or lack of it as you stride towards the shoot.

The process of photographic capture is very gentle, positive, emotionally rewarding and giving in a well being type of way. Yet I was filled with fears of the unexpected, and all of the “what if’s”. I am sure so many reading this post will relate to the fears I am sharing too; learn from mine and take on board the meaning behind these fears, as within a moment and second of the shoot they all evaporated in a instant. Photography matters, images matter, is our fear simply because those of us in the industry are too alert to this?

We face many challenges when in business, it’s the landscape of life; I often call it the roller coaster packed with exciting ups and downs. I started getting ready for the shoot with butterflies in my tummy, and within one glance and a careful sentence Jenny eliminated all of my worries and concerns like a magican. How did she do that? Experience, training and life long skills; within seconds, her smile batted away all of which was bothering me. Jenny’s sentences seemed to wrap a cloak of confidence around my nerves. Once the shoot started, the compositions and directions started to flow, I was locked into the moment. I loved every moment.

What I am left with is images that I will treasure for a lifetime. A press shot I am proud of, a collection of images of which I will spread about my home like a photographic homage to an artist I admire. Lets never underestimate what we do; we seal dreams, make wishes come true and liberate expectations.

 
Catherine x