Out of our comfort zone

So the one thing all photographers are always trying to do, OR SHOULD TRY TO DO, is step out of their comfort zone. Whether it is shooting a session you don't normally photograph, or driving to a location for an event you probably wouldn't normally venture off to. It could even be trying settings on your camera that you don't normally use, or use often, to better yourself as a photographer. With having so many photographers in the area that I live in it's like fighting over which events you want to go to because out of respect you don't, or shouldn't, step on others toes.

Just recently I have been battling dealing with haters and people who are against my photography. Whether they don't like my work, don't think I am AS GOOD AS OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS IN MY AREA, or they just personally don't like me for whatever reason. I've battled with depression since my father passed away and I try not to say it to people because I hate to burden people with my problems so I hide it from people and try to act "normal" to the outsiders looking in. Depression isn't like a visible disease like cancer. I won't lose my hair [I hope] and hopefully I won't die from this, but just because you may not think I am battling something, I am. When my father passed away due to Stage 4 lung cancer, it had metastasized to his brain, adrenal glands and bones... I watched my father deteriorate before my eyes and over a matter of months... To see a loved one do that, and one of your parents, it is hard... very hard... I still see my dad in the hospice bed every night when I close my eyes.

You see... when my father passed, he passed his photography business to me. I had been working with him since he had started it but with minimal gear we shared his beloved camera and lenses and I could never convince him to let me borrow the stuff without him being there. So yes, when he passed, I had to self teach myself how to use and get comfortable with his gear all over again... Taking pictures helps me feel closer to my dad.. It helps me feel better about losing him.

I haven't said much to anyone, but there are a few people in my area that have continuously bashed me and my photography/business lately. Yes, I know I should just let it roll off my shoulders and not let it get to me, but this person went around and lied to many others about things that she knew nothing about and also had no business putting herself into the situation. She posted on the GLORIOUS social media that another photographer [aka me] was "stealing arenas" from another local photographer.. She continued to get people to agree to not purchase my photos and to support the other photographer... After all of this died down a bit [I spoke to the photographer and explained to her the REAL situation], this young woman decided to start a rumor and tell this photographer [that has been diagnosed with liver cancer] that I wished death upon her and I found out that she was informing this person through a couple other reliable sources... Let me just say that I would absolutely NEVER wish death upon anyone, and being that I watched my own daddy pass away in front of me from lung cancer that I would NEVER hope that anyone would pass away due to cancer...

This young woman has started to ruin my business locally, which in return made me think... I need to step out of my comfort zone and venture off to some new places to take photos. It's definitely hard going to a place you've never been to and not know many, if any, people there. But everyone has welcomed me with open arms. They all have loved my photography and that is honestly all I want. Yes, people buying my photos is great, but to have people absolutely love the shots I get, they get a chance to see how I view the world, just like my dad was able to show people in his work how he viewed this beautiful earth.

Yes, I probably didn't have to go into all of this, but the moral of this blog is to tell people that there will always be people that try to put out your fire, and not support you in hopes that you fail.. But keep going, don't let ANYONE whether its other photographers or just people ruin you and your love for this. Step out of your comfort zone, be an inspiration, and most of all.... PROVE THEM ALL WRONG with your amazing work.