Kaytie ~ Senior 2011
Posted on October 28, 2010
Wow. I love these photos of Kaytie so much…I had a really hard time picking my favorites. You know how some people seem way older than they are? Yeah, that’s this girl. Kaytie is only a High School Senior, but you’d never know that by talking to her. I only spent a couple of hours photographing her, but both my makeup artist, Jami Cox and I agreed – this girl has “it” ~ she’s a singer, and although I’ve never heard her sing, somehow, I just know she’s amazing….
Catch the slideshow:
Thanks, Jami ~ love the makeup!
Creativity Trumps Rules
Posted on October 28, 2010
Very serendipitous that I began writing this post last night and then saw what Chase Jarvis was talking about today on Chase Jarvis Live. I LOVE when this happens….makes me think I might be on the right path 
Here is what I had written before I realized what he was chatting about today:
For some time now, I’ve wanted to write a post all about being creative ~ without adhering to any so called “rules” of photography, design, etc. We live in such a different world than we did just five years ago. You no longer need to go to art school. You no longer need to climb the proverbial ladder. With new media being what it is, we can literally learn anything online. We can push ourselves further and further, without even leaving our house! Every day I see things online from many “older schooled” photographers talking about how this is not a good thing, how photographers now are just taking the easy way out, about how they’re not “real” photographers because they didn’t go the traditional route. I have to agree that there are many, many photographers popping up every day who really aren’t walking the walk….but I don’t agree that people can’t be self-taught – because I am!
I decided I wanted to be a photographer when my son was a baby because I wanted to work from home, spend more time with my family and do something I loved in the process. No, my income is not what makes my family run – my husband’s income does that, so I’m lucky in that way. But what I found was that I wanted to do more. I have learned almost everything I know about photography, design, computers, lighting, editing – all from the internet & hands on. Not kidding. But, what I had to have first was creativity and motivation. I have always been the “creative type”, but wasn’t really sure what to do with it. When I got my hands on my first camera, I knew….this was my medium. That spark – that feeling in your tummy when you get excited and scared all at once? I still get it every time I pick up my camera. Every time.
I also think that we need to, as a group of creative types, help each other. We need to be more supportive of each others endeavors ~ social media is all about getting your “friend’s” back. The more you help, the more you get in return. We need to understand that inspiration does not equal imitation, either….we need to find our own styles. The only way to do that is to shoot a LOT and keep doing your own thing. Does my thing kinda look like someone else’s thing? Yeah, probably so. But at the heart of it, I want my clients to come to me because I give them something that nobody else can. I want people to see my images and think, “That looks like a Renee Bowen shot”. I want people to feel comfortable in front of my lens and I want people to think of me as a friend…..
Young photographers ask me advice a lot these days. My main piece of wisdom (and I use that term lightly) is to think outside the box. Be creative. Let your imagination take over a bit and just do it – don’t think about the “rules” of photography….whether the histogram is perfect or the rule of thirds – if you have an idea just go with it and see where it takes you. I’m not discounting art school, by the way – I still kinda wish I could go back simply because I LOVE learning. But who cares if you have crappy gear? Cameras are so amazing these days – I pushed the hell out of my D80 and kit lens. It’s very easy to get stuck in that photographer competition – my gear is better than your gear convo. Stop it already! Every wedding I shoot, someone has a better camera than me. So what? I’m going to do something with my images that he can’t – because he isn’t me. I don’t strive to be the best photographer. Art is subjective – not everyone is gonna like what I do. What I strive for is to be me…at my best. Cheesy? Totally. But me.
So, find your voice in your creativity. Help each other. Don’t get caught up in the rules. Never stop learning.
And that concludes my Tony Robbins rant for today.
