A New Direction

Lately I have been trying to figure out what I want to do with my photography.  Don't get me wrong, I like shooting babies and brides and families, but what do I have to offer that is uniquely ME?  I've been working on my skills and I do a lot of online education, but I feel like I need a Niche.  After all, everyone who buys a DSLR thinks that is what makes good pictures (How many times have I heard: "I wanna buy a nice camera so I can take good pictures like you..."?).  In my neighborhood alone there are a half dozen people who shoot weddings and kids and families.  Do I want to be a part of that rat race?  Not really.

I recently took an online seminar that was about photographing women. All shapes.  All sizes.  All races.  I was ENTHRALLED!  I watched women have this wonderful experience being pampered and styled with full hair and makeup before their photoshoot.  What really got me, though, wasn't that they were made up so beautifully, but how they felt about themselves.  It was amazing to watch these women transform as they felt they were beautiful from the inside.  They shed tears as they were shown their finished photos that were NOT heavily photoshopped, but were posed in the most unusually flattering ways.  I'm hooked!  This is what I want to do!  I want to give this to women!  I realize that this may not be an easy thing to market, but I'm already experimenting with some of the closest women around me.   I did this with my sister-in-law a few months back.  She had just gone thru breast cancer and was about to have a double mastectomy.  Her spirits needed some lifting and so I had my very first make-up and hair session with her.  It made my day to spend that time with her and show her what everyone else sees in her!  I posted them previously under "My Busy Week".  I wanted to post some of my newer ones that I've just done as quickies.  No hair and make up was done by me and they were some spontaneous shots, but I loved how they turned out.

 Here's my mom.  Isn't she beautiful?  This was impromptu at my sister's house with none of my equipment except my camera.  I think it's gorgeous!

Here's my sister, Sarah. Gorgeous eyes!  Beautiful soul!  

My stepmom came by after her new haircut yesterday.  Her eyes match her clothes!  So pretty!

So I will probably post some of these as I do them.  I need to do "before and afters" on them to see the transformation.  I am LOVING this!!