There are three things that make me feel like a rock star.  One is getting my hair professionally blown out.  Two is watching my children grow.  And three is strapping on ten thousand dollars worth of camera gear.  Okay let’s talk about number three.  It is not the ten thousand dollar part, although having big a** cameras are a lot of fun.  It could be a point and shoot, or a “PHD” camera as my dad used to call it (Press Here Dummy).  What makes me feel like a rock star and what should empower you too, is the ability to know how to use it, and the vision to act on it.   Even if it is a Polaroid, as long as you know what you are doing, you have conviction, you own it…you own your power.   This kind of confidence is contagious.  It makes your subjects comfortable.  It draws people to you like a magnet.  I think this kind of charisma is essential for a people shooter.  It’s through this rapport that you will get your best shots.

So how do you develop these qualities?  It’s like the law of attraction which basically states, what you put out there comes back to you.  Or in other words, if it feels good you are on the right track.  Keep doing that.  So when you are learning how to shoot, first focus on what you are attracted to.  What interests you?  What are your reading about or looking at even when your favorite TV show is on.  What moves you into action?

I am betting if you are on this website you love shooting and you are a mom.  Can I take a guess; you probably love shooting your kids!  I know I do.  So take this and run with it.  Practice with them, on them, until you know what you are doing.  It’s a lot more inspiring then doing exposure tests on a mannequin.  I am constantly at Target styling my next photo concept…or, I am driving around town scouting out the perfect location.  What do you want to photograph?  Write down all your shoot ideas…keep them in a journal, refer to it often.  Make a habit of leafing through magazines for inspiration.  Ironically, when I was a photo editor at a magazine my job required me to look through them.  I always felt guilty about doing this.  It seemed so decadent.  Maybe because I am the product of a Jewish father and a mother who attended catholic school… it is double the guilt.  But when you are an artist in training you must find motivation anyway you can.  You need to fill the well with lots of inspiration.

Then next thing that will catapult you to rock stardom… is just doing it!  Sure you have heard that before but sometimes it is easier to watch Oprah then to learn something new.  Another cup of coffee sounds like a better idea than researching photography websites.  The idea of a photo class seems too intimidating.  How could I possibly make time for that… the kids, family… Yeah, yeah we are all there.  It is all about balance.  The happier mom is, the happier everyone is.  So if you need to take pictures…and you are actually doing it….congratulations you are a ROCK STAR!