Editorial by Stacie Jensen, owner of Rock My Photography and Colorvale Actions
We can look at what others are doing and wish we could do the same or we can take our dreams by the balls and make them happen. I refuse to watch others and wish that I could be at that level, rather I am pushing forward to become all that I need to be. Today I admit I lack in a certain area of my profession. I have the confidence, I have the passion, I just simply don’t have the macro skills and I am tired of looking at others and wishing I could get those same tight shots. Specifically it’s the wedding ring area that I strive to achieve. Not sure why it is my downfall, but the end of the week I will be a pro. I don’t care if it takes me 5,000 photos and heisting all my friends jewelry, I’m getting this accomplished.
Why be afraid to admit where you need some work? If you go about pretending that you are the cats *meow* in an area that you haven’t mastered then you really aren’t giving yourself the ability to grow. I don’t mean you need to publicize your downfalls, definitely not recommending that. What I mean is that when you see there is an area you need to grow in, admit it to yourself so that it’s out on the table and a goal is being made. I could have just continued to pretend that jewelry shots were coming out just fine but we all knew they weren’t top of the line. No way. I was actually even avoiding those shots because I wasn’t getting what I wanted out them.
So without further hesitation it was time to learn. I took my camera, multiple light sources and my wedding ring and began hashing it out! I quickly realized why I wasn’t getting the shots. It was against my grain to use flash. I hate flash. But it was that and a macro lens that made detail and crisp shots that I finally achieved.
{Below was the photo I took to show you where my skill level was … and below that is after I admitted I needed work, locked myself in the house and practiced with every type of light and lens to get skilled. I have now mastered the work of jewelry photography and I am finally confident!}
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I think both shots are wondeful! Your words really inspire me =) I HATED the idea of doing weddings. I soon realised that I needed to go in that direction. I am eagerly reading up about what to do with wedding shots. I have recently done my first wedding and it wasn’t too bad, not NEAR the quality that you are at but I’m striving to become alot better! xx
Way to go, Stacie.