Photography

Yesterday a strange thing happened to me. Actually, I'm jumping ahead of myself. Let me back up a bit and explain what's been going on.

We're a few weeks into school and lately I can't help but think and wonder about the next chapter in my life. My kids are growing up. Yes, yes, yes, I know my youngest is only three but I have no doubt that before I know it, she'll be headed off to school and I'll be left wondering where the time went.  Not to mention, I think I'm a little restless to figure out a plan for what comes next. Remember, I'm a planner.

I had started to toy with the idea of graphic design. I have no doubt that's something I would enjoy. So I considered going back to school and then trying to get a gig as a freelance graphic designer. But I realized that trying to jump straight into freelance work was probably ambitious.  I had the good sense to talk to a graphic designer friend and I quickly realized graphic design would not be a good fit for a busy, mother-of-four.  We all sat around and brain stormed and once again, my friends encouraged me to pursue photography.

So, I've been thinking more about it and trying to figure out why I hesitate to throw myself into this and really pursue photography.  In the meantime, a friend had contacted me about taking some photos for her club and while I was discussing the details with my husband I made a comment about a future point when people might start contacting me to take photos for them.  Dwight said, "Heather, that's happening now. People you don't know want you to take photos for them. You need to start charging people."

And I realized with a shock that he's right. And then yesterday I had a moment. I was driving home from exercising and once again thinking about my future and mulling over photography as a career option. I picked up my kids and then happened to notice that my phone was blinking with a message.  Someone had called while I was out exercising. I listened to the message and it was someone calling to ask me about taking photographs. Suddenly I felt like maybe the universe has been trying to tell me something and I keep ignoring it.

I love taking photographs.  Why am I fighting this?

I'm sure it won't be easy. I'm sure it won't provide the most steady income but hey, something is better than nothing, right?!  And maybe it won't work out. But I think I should give it a try. Fortunately I still have lots of time to ease into this.

And did I mention that I love taking pictures?

Today I took step one and started putting together a web site that I can refer people to.  Check it out and tell me what you think. http://heatherengen.wordpress.com/ 

Unfiltered

A friend and I were chatting this morning and somehow we ended up discussing the fact that I have no filters. It's so true.  And I think I've gotten worse since I've become a stay-at-home-mom.  I no longer recall how to properly function in normal, adult mode. So we joked that I'm "unfiltered" and I thought that could have been a good alternate name for this blog.  "Unfiltered"...maybe we could even work a little photo-related tagline...let's see..."Unfiltered...except for the UV one on my lens."  Hmm...better work on that.  Perhaps someday I'll actually learn to edit my writing and stop with the stream of consciousness posts.  But then I don't think we could call this blog "Unfiltered" anymore. 

In the meantime, back to my mommy duties.  The kitchen counters are atrocious and there's scads of laundry to be done.  Plus I need to comb my little girl's hair before driving her to school.

Holiday Photos

My lack of activity on here is a symptom of my increase of activity in real life.  One fun thing is that I've taken holiday photos for several of my friends.  I don't want to share them now because I want to let them unveil them on their own.  But after the holidays maybe I can share a few of my favorite shots from these various sessions.

Meanwhile, holiday photos of my own family have been a disaster.  It's very frustrating.  I know the shot I want to get, but it's very hard to take it and be in it at the same time.  *sigh*

Heather Engen Photography

I don't know what I'm doing.  Don't start making "What else is new?" cracks!  I can't figure out where to post my photos...and more importantly, what I'm doing with my life.  As my most dedicated followers know (Mom?), this summer I've been exploring photography as a potential career path.  And I think the most important thing that I've learned from this is that I am SO not ready for anything like this right now. But of course I still love photography and I still love taking pictures of/for people.  So for now I just want to keep practicing on the kind people I know.  People who are gracious when I totally screw up.  (Thank you Aunt Esther!)

So...in the meantime...I had made a "Heather Engen Photography" page on Facebook.  Should I close that down? Should I post my photos there?  What to do, what to do? Or should I post my photos to Flickr (which is kinda what I had been doing).  Or both?  I need to decide.

AWOL

I've been AWOL. Sorry. This past week kicked my butt. We had so much stuff going on every single day.  But today was the last day of school so now we get to relax and chill.  Thank.goodness.

And yesterday I bought a new lens - the nifty fifty. I am loving it. I took a ton of pictures with very shallow depth of field...because I can. Dwight is not impressed. But I am so that's what matters.  Maybe I'll upload some of them and post a link for you so you can declare whether you're in my camp or in Dwight's camp.  :)

10:02 pm update click here to see twenty pictures I took with the new lens.