Today I want to share about the importance of community when it comes to photographers – specifically here in Hampton Roads. Typically on Wednesday, we post a blog geared towards helping/educating/entertaining photographers, but yesterday. you may have noticed that I did not post anything. That’s because I was at the Leila Alexander Boudoir studio with a fabulous group of ladies trading headshots!
The Importance of Community
As someone who is a full time photographer who works from home, it is very easy to become chained to the computer and never get out to interact with people in the outside world. So when Leila announced that she was hosting a get together for local photographers at her studio, I knew I wanted to go! I’ll be honest, it’s literally been years since Leila and I have seen each other, so it was wonderful to get together again to catch up and see where life has taken us.
I also got to meet some new friends, eat delish tacos, share some laughs, boss people around (unintentionally – I swear!), and take some gorgeous images! I know… you’re thinking – wait, can we go back to the tacos?! 😉
To all the gorgeous gals who came out to the event, it was awesome getting to hang out with you and y’all really reinforced the importance of community in our business and in our lives! Can’t wait to do it again!
Now Onto the FREE Mentoring Session
In the interest of promoting the importance of community, we are giving away a FREE one on one mentoring session! You can read about some of what we offer via this link, but the session will be tailored to the winners needs!
How Do I Win?!
It’s super simple! Just leave a comment on this blog telling us how the photography community has impacted your life (positive or negative), and share this blog on Facebook!
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!
Love What You See? Want to Have Your Own Session?!
If you’ve finished looking at all these gorgeous new headshots and are thinking to yourself – I wanna do that too! Awesome!!! We would LOVE to create a custom portrait session for you and the ones you love! Feel free to message me by hitting the { CONTACT ME } button or by giving me a call at 757-749-5350. I can’t wait to create some magic for you!
Learning to use my Nikon as much as I have, and being a model for many photographers has helped me to open up more and to not be afraid of being in front of a camera. It has helped me achieve a goal I have wanted to do since I was in middle school. That goal is modeling! Thanks judith for the push!
Wh-hoo!!! So glad to hear that Jen 🙂
Photography community has impact my life by allowing me to grow as a person. Its a great way to meet new people and calm down after having a crazy day in the military. They encourage me to shine and its like another military family. I will continue to grow and learn new things just like my current job.
Yay! So glad to hear it’s had such a positive impact for you Daniel 😀
Well Judith, you know me, I love to shoot, I love to help folks with their photography.
Whether it is during what I do at my “real job” a photowalk, a meet-up, or just going out with a group I am open and available to offer any advice or information I can offer. Like I tell people, if I don’t know the answer I will get it for you.
I have made many good friends though photography, and I have learned a lot from them. I am often will take a “newbie” under my wing and help them understand the difference between taking a picture and making a photograph.
So why am I here? Why am I entering in the blog?
I have no business sense. I have no clue how to turn this hobby into a viable business. Sure I have sold a few prints, won a few contests and done a job or two for a few bucks, but I nowhere near make more than I spend.
HELP!!!!
I totally understand that feeling Pete, it’s great getting to take pictures and have fun while you’re doing it, but turning photography from a hobby into a (profitable) business is tough!
It’s great to see so many positive experiences, but I had a negative one where a few photographers criticized my photos and told me the only way I would get better was to get a “real camera”
That has stuck with me and to this day I’m scared to post any of my photos for review.
I’m so sorry you had to go through that Cindy 🙁
Hopefully those photographers were trying to come from a place of helping, but it’s hard to hear when others criticize our work (I know, I’ve been there lady!).
Just keep your head up and focus on what makes YOU and your clients happy!!!
It’s been nice meeting photographers here in Virginia Beach because where I used to live people were very catty with one another and it’s refreshing to see that people are willing to share and help one another!
I’m so glad that the photographers here have been welcoming to you Susan! It can definitely be difficult to improve your craft if you constantly feel like people are tearing you down, that’s one of the big reasons that Eric and I are so keen on helping other photographers. We want to see everyone succeed!!!