Photog Philosophy Part 1 - Why Me?

I decided last year, right around finals week, I was going to take a break from shooting for January and February.  Well, January has come and gone.  It flew by.  One short month left on hiatus then I'm back at it, with an engagement shoot the first weekend in March.  I can't wait to work with Bobby & Tara!  Just think, in a month, spring will be right around the corner.  Color, fresh air, and lots of great light...makes the blizzard seem almost manageable...almost.

I used the break to give some serious thought about what I want Julie Stephenson Photography to be.  I made some changes and I've taken some risks.  It's exciting and scary, but I can't wait to see what's in store. I want this business to be a reflection of me and my life, and I think so far it has been. I've been building confidence, learning from others and leaving my comfort zone in my own life and the photography business is doing the same thing.

I love making people smile. I love writing goofy blog posts about my life; sharing the way I see things with people all over the world.  I love taking photos for the same reason, I want people to see a photo I've taken and smile until it hurts. 

Recently, I received an email that I loved.  It said:
  
   "I really like the natural style of photographs where you really capture the mood of the day and people.  Looking at your photographs of children and families makes me smile every time I look at your website, which is a lot :-)"

There are 2 parts of that email that I appreciate as a business owner.  The paragraph told me two things about this potential client:

1. She knows what makes her smile. She understands what it is about the photos she likes-"the natural style & capturing the mood."

2. She is doing the research. With so many photographers out there, you need to look around and find someone who is right for you. Locating someone with a similar style and vision takes exploration. Looking at websites (a lot) is a great way to make sure you and your photographer are going to be a perfect fit.

I realized, I don't want clients to call me because I'm cheaper than anyone else, because I'm available more that anyone else, or because I'm the new photographer in town. I want clients who appreciate my style, who appreciate how valuable my time is and who understand that the images I take represent me and my business-whether they are on my website, hanging on their walls or being sent out in the mail.  I'm working hard to define my style and hope to generate clients who appreciate what I do without compromise.  I feel like my returning clients get this, and I hope they feel like they've found a perfect fit with me.

Just like the snowflakes flying around outside, we are all unique.  We are fond of things; when others are not. We love a certain motif that seems down right strange to our friends or family. I've always been drawn to natural & unexpected over perfect & posed. While centered photos of people with perfect hair might be your thing. It's OK, it's just a matter of taste.

There are certain personal photos of my kids that I can look at over & over again and smile every time I see them. I want to share some of them with you here.  Enjoy!