"good" photography is subjective

Something we talked about at the photography workshop I attended, is knowing if you are actually good enough to start a photography business. If you are going to open a coffee shop, you get all the equipment, have the space done the way you want, learn how to make "good" coffee, open the doors, do some marketing and hopefully be successful. OK..I know it is not that easy, and while good coffee is certainly subjective, you are hopefully not going to always be questioning yourself and your abilities. Wait..maybe my coffee shop is a bad example, let's say you are going to open a gas station...never mind, you get my point (maybe).

It must be a woman thing, but for whatever reason, we never think we are good enough at well..anything. Obviously this comes from how we were raised and as I struggle to overcome this for myself, I am becoming very aware of what to do to make sure my kids, especially Zoe, has confidence in her abilities. It's hard though..the thinking the past few years has been to tell your kids how great they are at everything, don't have winners in kids sports..everyone gets an award for trying. Positive reinforcement is the way to go..who cares if your kid actually can't do anything better then a stick figure, they are great at drawing. Kids got two left feet..no way, that little girl is a wonderful dancer. I don't think that telling kids that everything they do is wonderful. I don't think that gives them over confidence, I think it just makes it all less meaningful and they have a hard time figuring out what they do excel at. I guess the other side of this is no real interest in anything they do and no positive reinforcement. Since my dad does not read my blog, I'll use him as an example. My dad ALWAYS has a camera with him, he sees himself as the family photographer because he takes 100 awful red eye with flash pictures at every event and does not understand why I would spend so much money on a "fancy" camera and actually want to learn how to use it when these point and shoots can do "everything". God forbid he asks my advice on how to take a better picture. How's that for honesty. That's the other end..I find something I am passionate about and maybe even good at and don't get that positive reinforcement that I need. Nevermind the fact that I am 34 now and should not need the "approval" of my dad, but that is just how it is.

Lucky for me..I met a wonderful group of women at the workshop I attended who are all pretty much in the same boat as me. We are all working toward building our confidence and eventually starting businesses doing something we love. I am hopeful that with this great support and new friends, my confidence level will start to go up. This bring me back to the point that "good" photography is subjective. While I have enough confidence that the photos I take are better than the average snapshot, I still am not sure I am at the level to actually have people pay me to take pictures for them. Will I suddenly cross a line where all of a sudden it becomes clear to me that I am "good enough"? Umm..probably not. Here is what I have to remember. I am good enough, if the photos I take speak to me and or the person I am taking them for. If the passion that I have developed for photography over the past 4 years can speak to other people as well as myself, then I am good enough. Simple, right?

Here are some photos that I captured this weekend that are meaningful to me. I had the baby on my lap and was a little too close to Zoe when I got this shot, there is something just a bit goofy and off about it, kind of like her. I of course mean that in the nicest way.

A minute later I caught this one of Eli..seeing my grandmas hands on his face is such a reminder for me of having my cheeks squeezed all the time from my grandparents. So happy to capture my grandmas hands with his face.

Comments

[Wendy Tienken]

Wow, Michelle. I couldn't have put it any better! You are so right that, ultimately, if our photos speak to us and our clients, then we're good enough. Maybe I need to record that and play it over and over!! And, can I say, LOVE the photo of Eli with your grandma's hand. Ecokes such history!! Keep on keepin' on!!!

[Dori]

LOVE YOU. Ditto what Wendy said. Eli doesn't even look mildly annoyed about the hand on his face, he looks so happy and maybe even proud of his missing teeth :) I love the one of Zoe, you definitely caught a moment/expression/phase of her life.
xo
d

[bubbie of Eli,Zoe and Ari]

nice post great pictures look forward of you taking some pictures of me with all my grandchildren when i am there.

[sharon]

I alway thought it would be cool to be a misunderstood artist..

Now that I am one... not so much!

I adore you and think your pictures are not only fabulous, but meaningful. Your dad may be great a capturing how people look, but you capture who they are and how they feel. THAT takes talent!

[Jenny]

Michelle - I love the contrast between the aged hand of your grandmother and the young, pure skin of your son. Awesome! And the toothless grin is priceless.

[Carrie Hasson]

Fantastic work! Just keep following your passion Michelle...you're ready to take that next step

[Isabel Magnasco]

I love your blog !!!
I am also a photographer, mother of three,
Manuel, Sofia and Tomas (6, 3 and 10 months)
I live far away, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I am starting to make a career in photography here. I feel so close with all your daily comments on raising kids, and trying to make something for your own and all the confidence stuff.
Keep writing and sharing your experiences,
your blog is very inspiring and it is good to know we are a lot of us in the same situation !!!

[ONE LOVE PHOTO]

Great work! I love the tooooo close wide angle colorful first one. I've always found that when I break the rules is when I get the best shots. The missing teeth with contrasting older hands, B&W one is very beautiful. Both should be in your portfolio!

[Jen MacNiven]

Your pictures aren't just 'good'...your pictures are WONDERFUL and capture such an essence of who each individual is. You don't even need to tell me how adorable your son is, how silly your little girl is...you capture that in every photo!
I too felt your same hesitation though...and TODAY I launched my first website! www.jennifermacniven.com
I can sit and compare myself to the creme de la creme...but when it comes down to it...I'm good at what I do. Can I get better...HECK YEAH! But no reason to hide behind the fear of others already out there. My initial fear was feeling the race was already won...so why start? I've elimated that from my thoughts now...and I figure, why not? TRULY, WHY NOT? Nothing at all to lose. Keep up the AMAZING work you do...and go for it...start a business. You'll be amazed at how fast you blossom!
cheers,
Jen