What Do You Do? {With a Drunken Sailor}

  This post is not about drunken people, nor about sailors.  I just had to put that in the title because who doesn't remember this song?!  I don't know where I heard it but it popped into my head as I typed the first words to the title....

  So, I digress...Back to the point of this post.....

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  What do you do? 

  What do you do when the urge to travel is banging around in your skull, wanting to get out?

  What do you do when you have the threads of ideas and schemes for your business floating in your mind yet you don't know where to begin to bring those threads into a tapestry?

  What do you do when you really can't stand your day job (and it gets worse as the weeks progress) but you pray and pray and no door opens for you to go full time with what you love?

  What do you do when you think of moving out of your childhood home but realize that you don't have the money to do so?

  What do you do when you are praying for a spouse (a husband in my case) and a prospect comes along but then gets knocked out of the water for some reason?  (Disclaimer. I firmly believe all my "knocked out of the water" prospects were God closing the door because He has something much better for me.  But it still doesn't feel good at the time).

  What do you do when you realize that many of the beliefs you've held since childhood aren't the real deal?

  What do you do when you know that how your views and beliefs are changing is going to make very important people in your life unhappy but you know it's the right thing to do?

  Whew, boy....I need a break just from typing them all out. 

  Each of these questions is something that I've been dealing with over the past few months.

  It's a lot.  I think that most young adults go thru many of these questions at a much younger age (I'm 27 -almost 28 - for crying out loud) than I am; however, I don't know if going thru it earlier makes it any easier.

  I don't have an answer for any of the questions above.  I really don't.  I wish that I did. 

  There are days where I think that I have started to make progress with my business, days where I tightly hold onto the promises that God is going to provide me a husband, days where I like my day job.  But then, there are the days where my business seems like a failure, where I wonder when God is going to bless me with a husband, and where I HATE my day job and wish I was anywhere else but there.....

  And I still don't have any answers. 

  There are only a few things I know for a certainty, and I have been clinging to those things more and more lately.  One is that my God will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).  The other is that I don't have to figure out the in's and out's of everything in my life, whether it's trying to analyze something in my spiritual life or whether it's wondering why God isn't opening any doors for me to travel (Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalms 37:23).  All the Lord requires of me is to love Him first (Mark 12: 29-31) and to fear Him and serve Him in truth with all my heart (1 Samuel 12:24). 

  These reminders comfort me when I begin to get overwhelmed with all the "what do you do's" above. 

  Do you have any "what do you do" moments in your life?  Share.  Maybe we can encourage each other....

Sara

Slump Time

Right now I'm going thru my creative slump.  It seems to happen every two-three months. 

I'm not allowing myself to get anxious about it though.  I'm already feeling the stirring to get my camera back out and begin working on my business.

Right now my date for having new pricing effective, new policies written and my website updated is October 1, 2012.

Excited....

Sara

True Confession: I am Sara Vogt and I am Addicted to Photography Blogs

  Yes, right now photography blogs are my # 1 addiction (after editing photos of course).  If you're looking for some interesting tips, a look at life from a fellow photographer or just need something to read to give you a break from whatever important task you were doing, check out the blogs below.  You won't regret it..... =)

  1- http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/ - This blog is amazing!  The Pioneer Woman offers some free actions for Photoshop but also offers contests, food photography info (and recipes - I think), as well as photo "how to" articles.

  2 - http://www.clickinmoms.com/blog/ - Offers many techiniques and ideas for photography.  There is a very informational forum (or so I've read) but it requires a fee to join.

  3- http://blog.brookesnow.com/ - This photographer shares her battle with choosing to create images that are meaningful to her and not get wrapped up in the commercialism of Photography.  Very insightful and inspiring.

  4- http://www.brandcampblog.com/ - If you're looking for ways to build a better Photo business, this resource is very helpful.  Very down to earth and address very pertinent topics.  It's my favorite right now, I love browsing the archives.

Happy Blog Reading,
Sara

Confidence - That Quality That Makes A Person Successful...Or Not

  8:53 AM

  I lack confidence.  That's a scary confession but it's the truth, so why not admit it?

  I have been an aspiring photographer since I can remember but I began my business in April 2009 (www.saravogtphotography.com).  When I had my first session, I was extremely nervous.  Questions and doubts surged through my mind: "Will these people click with me?" "Can I really take a good picture of them?"  "What if they hate the photos I produce of them?"....And on and on it went. 

  I prayed before every session.  I still do.  Even though it has gotten a little easier meeting and shooting new people (and those I know but don't really know) over the past 2 years and 8 months, I still lack confidence.  A LOT.

  When I'm at a session and I switch to Manual Mode, man, does that feeling of nervousness, doubt and inadaquacy fill my mind!  I forget the things I new, I forget poses I'd like to try.  All I can think of is, "can I produce work that these people will love?  Me, Sara Vogt, a small-town southern girl with one year of college and a southern drawl...." and then I begin wondering, "They'll think I don't know a thing about what I'm doing because I'm fiddling with these dials and telling them to wait while I get this right...."  Yup, I do that. 

  I guess in a sense it's not a bad thing.  At least if you're wondering if they'll like something or if they'll think you're stupid you see there's room for improvement.  That's one way of looking at it.....  But I typically don't look at it thru that rose-colored filter.  I typically see it as, "I really don't know what I'm doing and I'm shooting these people for money!!!"

  Really though, in all honesty, unless those you're photograping are photographers themselves, they don't really see all those things that you're worried about.  They just see you as a Photographer who knows about their camera and who is trying to create the perfect photo for them!! 

  That should ease my mind (and yours), right?  It doesn't really help.  But that's where having and building confidence comes in. 

  Lately, before each session I go into, when I hear those doubts and insecurities tapping down the drive to the front door of my mind, I begin reminding myself of all the other sessions (successful ones, I might add) that I've held.  I remind myself of all the new people I've met and connected with (there really isn't ANY client I've had that I haven't connected with in some way) and all the positive feedback from those clients.  I remind myself that I did it last time, so I can do it again!  And then, I pray.  For wisdom, for understanding of my client's needs, for strength, creativity of thought and for remembrance of the things I've learned.

  I'm working on my confidence.  It's not always in place but it's coming along.  And as Phillipians 4:13 says, "I can do all things thru Christ which strengtheneth me".  I can do EVERYTHING thru Him. 

  If you're new to photography, or even an old hand at it and still have days where you lack confidence, I hope this helps you to know it's not just you and that you can create confidence by remembering what achievements you've made in the past and practicing being proud of the images you create for others.

Sara