Comparing.

I came home a few weeks from a photo shoot and I was excited. Like super excited. We had just had so much fun and I LOVED the images I got. As they loaded into Lightroom I was happier and more excited as each image came in. I yelled to Scott in the other room - 'This is my favourite session EVER!!!'

Then I decided to quickly get caught up on my favourite photographers blogs - and in a swift moment, it felt like the wind was taken out of my sails. I felt deflated. Disheartened.

The images I had just taken, and had been in love with two seconds ago, did not even come close to comparing to the images on these blogs. My favourite session ever wasn't even close to being in the same league as these photographers....

Or, that's how I felt.

It wasn't the first time this had happened to me - I've struggled with this for a while. I have a pretty bad habit of letting someone else's work make me discount my own. Of letting the quality of other people's work dictate the quality of mine. Was it worse? Better? WAY SUPER NEVER COME CLOSE WORSE? We are our own worse critics - but, I loved my work, until I realized it wasn't as good as their's.

This has got to stop. I have to value myself, and my photography, more. It's okay if someone produces better photo's than me. I have to learn to use that knowledge, not to discount myself, but to push myself to be better. To improve. To learn from these more experience photographers.

And so, I have come up with a sort of system to help me with this. If I really like a certain photo and it's something I would love to see in my own portfolio - I ask myself why. Is it the pose? The lighting? What can I take from this photo and apply, in my own way, to my photo's? Then I pin it (Yes, I am shamelessly addicted to Pinterest!) so I can actually come back and reference the photo.

Secondly, if I really like a certain photo but it isn't the style or type of photo I would want in my portfolio - I look at the photo with appreciate for the wonderful work of art that it is and then, move on. Why should I get hung up over a photo that doesn't fit into my style of photography?!

This isn't a change that will happen over night. I can't just stop comparing my work to others. But, I am willing to work really hard to change my mindset about it. Do you struggle with comparing too? Any tips on how you handle it? I would love to hear them :)



Here's to turning a new 'leaf' - and to really bad puns!

Connected.

Recently, I went two whole weeks without a cell phone. And let me tell you, it was painful. I hated not being able to get in touch with family and friends - or having to go to extra lengths to do so. I commandeered Scott's phone more than once. Gave out HIS number so people could get in touch with ME. It made me realize just how reliant I am on technology - I was seriously lost without a cell phone! Like I was missing a piece of me!

Thankfully, this past Tuesday, my suffering was ended when UPS finally made the delivery I had been waiting for. A little white box with silver lettering on the outside. The third limb I felt I had been missing. My connection back to society.

My iPhone 4s.

And now, I finally feel like one of the cool kids. Playing Draw Something, downloading the Pinterest App, posting Instagram photo's, and asking Siri to please "Text Scott."



Wait, what? Cool kids DON'T kiss their iPhones?!?!

Well at least I have the coolest case around - which I purchased a whole month before my phone even arrived! Thanks Amazon.com :)



The best part though - feeling connected again.

Just Because: Geoff & Kandace.

These two make me so happy. Just by simply being their wonderful selves. I think that they have this affect on a lot of people. Their love, their happiness, their kindness - it's infectious.

It made me even happier to take their photo. Just because, they have been married for 3 years. Just because, they are so adorable together. Just because, I asked if I could :)

Thank you both so much for allowing me to spend the afternoon capturing your love. I am so incredibly blessed to have you in my life!





Okay, stop it you two. You look AMAZING!



Kandace is my pen pal (of the electronic age). And, as you can tell, she is beyond gorgeous!







The photo on the right just might be my favourite. Their smiles tell it all.





Thanks again for being so wonderful you two :) :)

In other news - I FINALLY got up the courage to make a Facebook page for Kari Jeanne Photography. I would love it a lot and send you internet hugs if you would 'like' it :) :)

10 Random Things about the Birthday Girl.

It was always the joke in my family that I was the 'black sheep' and there were many, many, many reasons for this. What I can say? I was one weird little kid.

One reason for my status is because I am the only member of my family with a birthday outside the months of December and January. All the other 5 members of my family fall into those two months. I, the lone black sheep, celebrated a few months later in April. I thought that made me pretty special growing up.

And so, just in case you needed any more convincing about how special I really am, another edition of....

10 Random Things About Kari!

1. Today is my birthday! Cause for celebration world wide - or at least I think so ;)

2. I can not only fold my tongue in half but make it into a three leaf clover. I know, impressive.

3. Raw chicken grosses me out. Like super a lot. It's a texture thing.

4. 'Warm Vanilla Sugar' is my favourite scent from Bath & Body Works. In any form - hand soap, lotion, body mist, candles. I just love it.

5. Friends is the best sitcom of all time. No contest.

6. I have lived in 3 different countries - Canada, Spain, & the States. (The last two for 3 months each) I hope to add to this list.

7. I would love to learn calligraphy.

8. When I get too excited, my body vibrates. Yes, exactly like a little puppy. I just can't contain my excitement!

9. I wish that I liked running. So I could be a 'runner'. But; unfortunately, me and running don't get along so great. I'll just have to stick with yoga.

10. I greatly dislike horror movies. I refuse to watch anything even remotely scary. Once, I jumped so high during a PREVIEW for a scary movie that I tossed my popcorn everywhere!!!


And there you have it, 10 Random Things that make me so very special :)


Yes, that is me pretending to fall over the edge of the Grand Canyon. Oh, so special.