I’ve been in somewhat of a rut recently. Worried about this and that. Will I ever get a job? Why can’t I just support myself by taking pictures everyday? Will this whole photography thing even work out? It’s easy for me to compare myself to the people that inspire me instead of simply learning from them.

So today I decided to break that rut. I emailed people about jobs, refreshed some old contacts and (J-school would love me using this word) networked. And then I started to go through blog after blog, picture after picture by photographers that I adore. Jose Villa. Nancy Ray. Tec Petaja. “Oh my goodness that is the most beautiful photo I have ever seen.” “Gosh, I hope I get 150 comments on a post someday.” “Geez, if only I had their camera.” “I don’t know if I can ever be as talented as them.”

Back to square one.

Until I read this post by the amazing Gina Zeidler. If you ever need a pick me up, this is your gal.  She reminded me that this life is not about success. It’s not about how much stuff I have or how many weddings I have booked. Life isn’t measured by page views and Facebook likes. It’s about loving and knowing God.

What a beautiful truth.

Cherish where you are right now, Emily. What does He want you to learn right now? Patience. Trust. Desire. Effort. Discipline.

And then I remembered something that had bothered me on previous shoots. Rings. It may sound silly, but I have the hardest time getting a clear picture of a girl’s engagement ring! They always seem to come out blurry and out-of-focus. So I grabbed one of my favorite rings, a little one I got in New York a few years ago, and Mr. Nikon and headed outside for some natural light.

Got it.

It’s not the most amazing picture I’ve ever taken, but it is a testament to improvement and recognition that right now God just wants me to learn.

 

I hope you guys can bear with me as I continue to try to grow and improve as a photographer. And that takes time, patience, and a lot picture-taking. So much of what you see on this blog is just that: practice.