Coming out of the Photography Closet

     I have had an interest in photography for years.  I mean since I was a little kid.  I had 35mm cameras (yes the ones that took film), I had disposable cameras, my dad's canon he retired when he upgraded from film to digital... I had the portable printer that canon made that allowed me to print my own photos.  Gosh. I remember I used all the ink and paper in a matter of hours. lol.
     To this day, I have boxes and boxes of photos.  Photos I took when we were on vacation, of my friends, of my favorite stuffed animals, my pets, my bedspread, my window, my closet door, the corner of my room.... you get the point, I  was a snapping fool.
     As a teenager, my parents owning a newspaper, I had the opportunity to help my dad.  I went with him to accidents, to sporting events, to banquets, to Class Reunions...all standing beside him with a cool, expensive camera in my hand, ready to help and be his back up.  Even a few weddings and church events that he couldn't make.  It was a passion.
    We'll skip the long story, and I'll share the quick version, I married a not so stable person, who pawned my camera and lens, and it was years before I picked up a camera again. About 5 I would say.   Money was an issue for a while, then it just became something that gave me bad memories.  However, I married a prince charming the second time around.  And he of course has encouraged me no matter what and was quick to give me the "okay" (you know what I'm talking about ladies - where it has to be their idea) to buy new camera equipment.  I'm not sure he approved of how quickly I purchased all the new lens I wanted, but he sure didn't complain.
     And now here we are.  Building new clients, I officially and legally started my own photography business. Moments by VT. Not the first name I would have picked, it doesn't suit me really, but in time, maybe I will change it.  Why moments?  Moments are what we all want to remember. The moments that last a lifetime.  The funny moments, the happy moments, the moment when we got engaged, married, held the little ones, bought a house, graduated HS or College... Photography is about MOMENTS. And since I'm taking the photos, (Vickie Townsend) VT just seemed to fit. :) I'm clever right?
     I'm not sure my intention is to ever quit my job, and become a full time photographer.  It is very much a passion that I have and something I long to become better at in time.  It's like walking - you don't just wake up and walk, you walk and fall, and learn, and get back up, and eventually you're a pro.  I can tell you tons of things I have learned since I was a teenager, and then when I started back, I've seen my photography improve graciously.
     I was stuck in this "Am I good enough?" phase.   "Wow, Vickie look at her photos, you're know where close to that good."  I always get amazing compliments on my photos, not just from friends and family, but strangers who see the photo on my watch, my phone background, or hanging on my wall.  But still I just wasn't comfortable.  I wasn't ready to put out an ad, requesting clients.  I wasn't ready to put a Facebook post up, that stated " I am a Fine Arts Photography that recently moved to this area.."  There is something we like about comfort.  We don't want to leave our comfort zone.  We want to stay "comfortable".  God told me "Just do it".  (Not Nike, God).  So I gathered some of my favorite photos that I have taken, typed a nice little paragraph and offered my services.  FREE.  Yes! FREE.  Leaving my comfort zone, forgetting the "what will so and so say?" and just letting God.  I'm going to repeat again something a co-pro photographer shared with me.  A photographer I don't even personally know, yet shared her raw, heartfelt, God calling on her life and her photography passion.

And this became my focus.  How can I give God my attention?  I can give to others, I can do for others, I can not yell at my kids, not cuss when things don't go my way, not doubt everything in the world.  I can believe in a miracle, I can believe in God.  God that can! God that WILL.  God that DOES!  

I can only give God the glory and praise that I have finally come out of the photography closet.  No doubt, no regret, no judgment.