July 18, 2007

• Reading Your Life Backwards
  
  

  
  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  “You cannot be anything you want to be.  But you can be everything God wants you to be.” – Max Lucado

  Ever thought about reading your life backwards?  It’s sort of like a history recap of where you’ve been, who you are and maps out who you are today.  I’ve been learning a lot of interesting thing and the one thing I’ve actually stop to think about was taking a step back and looking back at my life.  Not just four or five years ago but I’m talking about all the way back to you childhood…say like when you were five years old.  So how does a five year old know what they want to be?  Maybe because they really do know.   You’ve heard children at early ages saying they want to be this or that one day and for some it becomes a reality.  Why?  Not because you can be anything you want to be but because maybe that was what God intended for your life.  I used to go through life thinking you can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it or work hard enough.  “I even heard it in Nas’ music…”I know I can…be what I want to be.”  It’s everywhere but the simple truth of the matter in my opinion is…you CAN”T always be anything you want to be.  You may or may not agree with me but I happen to think its very true.  I don’t believe you can wake up one day and just say you want to be this.  The words I think that come out when you young or a child are almost very true.  Not always but perhaps.  Maybe it takes a few life experiences for someone to figure out what they are really passionate about.  Some find out when they are 5 and others at 40.  Whatever it is I think its all derived from God’s specific plan for our lives.  He designed the blue print of our lives and if we try to make out own blue print sometimes…things just get out of wack.  When I think about my life backwards and all the things I’ve done in life, college and now it’s all lead me back to the same path I desired as a kid.  Well maybe not exactly the same path but it resembles it.  At a young age I remember telling my mom I always wanted to be a artist when I grew up but I told her artist don’t really make a living.  I was about five years old. I had always gone against the grain of myself because of what society determines what is successful.  In college I was always in the wrong major.  It’s sort of like trying to force a cube into a square slot.  It just doesn’t work.  Having finished college I have no regrets but if I could of done it all over again I would of majored in design.  This field is so fascinating to me and every bit of it is spurred off of creativity which I love.   Why couldn’t I figure this out in college?  Well, somethings we just aren’t meant to discover until the time is right I guess.    It sounds pretty simple but often time the thing we search so hard and long for is right under our nose all along.  Spent my years in college to be a Economist?  Sounds cool actually but I’m no Allen Greenspan.  =) 

  Moreover I had a chance to shoot a few photos here and there of my friends Jenn and Amy.  Both went to school with me at UCD.  Amy a CRD major and Jenn a o so awesome design major.  She actually designs stuff for UCD now.  Pretty cool eh?  She has a pretty sweet portfolio of stuff and shes definitely got a God given talent.  All the photos were taken in Davis, CA.  There are endless places to take photos here if you look hard enough.  We shot in multiple locations in Davis and we ended at some train track box cars haha with a handy dandy off camera flash ahha.  For some people taking photos can be a natural thing but for many its an uncomfortable experience or awkward.  I’ve been eagerly trying to learn new ways to bring the very best out of people when taking photographs of them.  A mark of a great photographer is more than just what kind of equipment they have but rather how they make people feel when they are around them.  Exhibiting enthusiasm, the joy to be there and just being down to earth is enough to make people feel comfortable with you as if they’ve known you for years.  For many professional photographers, they will have clients they’ve only met from a consultation and a few interactions but wont really be able to get to know them right away.  It’s then your job to make them feel at ease with you and just establishing a solid level of trust.  Ultimately when it comes to hired wedding photographers…they have to like you!   They might appreciate your work but when it comes down to it, if they don’t like you it doesn’t matter how good you are at photography, you’re likely not to get hired.  I think skilled photographers are not just about business but the passion they have for what they do.  Their passion drives them and it definitely shows in their work and character.

  One last blurp…success is be determined by your support group(family and friends).  Basically, the people who believe in you and share your passion with you.  These people are the ones who are with you when the going gets tough and are their to spurr you on in your disbelief.  Hang onto these people, they will be your life line.  Success, a solo star?…HARDLY EVER! =)

  Paris is in less than a week and I seriously can’t wait to learn so much from Scott and Kim.  I feel so privileged to be able to partake in their workshop, especially in Europe! =)  When I tell people where I am going and what its for it sounds pretty wild but its a experience of a life time! =) 

  Reference: Max Lucado

  Until next time…thanks for reading

  Cheers,
  Steve

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