Decorator turned Photographer

I love taking photos, really, I do ... but I've never thought of myself as a photographer. Over the years, I've taken some pretty nice photos of my yard and of my home and design work, but I always chocked them up to luck, and a pretty decent camera. So when a coordinator of the Lewiston Jazz Festival called me last Tuesday to ask if I would photograph the event on Saturday, I was both excited and bewildered ... was I really good enough to call myself a photographer and be this successful event's only source of 2014 marketing material? 

What made it even more scary was the fact that I've been kinda down in the dumps lately. My creativity is at an all time low. So, when I showed up, camera in hand, there was a great deal of trepidation.

I started snapping photos, one after the other, until 7 hours had passed and 900 photos had been taken. Then last night, I stayed up for hours checking out the final product, cleaning them up a bit ... and something surprising happened.

I started to feel my mood alter. I was happy, excited, a little surprised, but most importantly something I've not felt in months ... proud. 

Slowly but surely, as I went through all of those pictures I snapped not really knowing if I had enough creative juice to make them worth anyone's while, I learned an important lesson. 

Creative people like you and me, never lose our creativity. 

From time to time, we may find ourselves in a lull. 

We may think it's time to throw in the towel, and do something less demanding and stressful. 

We may second guess ourselves at every turn ... feeling like nothing is as good as it should be. 

But eventually, the cloud lifts, and the brass saxophone appears. 

That creative gene reappears. Bolder and Invigorated. 

So, if like me, you've found yourself in a creative lull, or a moment of the blues ... 

Don't throw in the towel. 

Allow your creative ticker the time that it needs to recharge ... 

and it'll return the favor with a fresh and new perspective that will result in your best work yet ... 

Maybe even in an area you never knew you had talent. 

You're special ... and stand out in a crowd. 

Talent transcends. 

Lull's pass.

And it all gets better.

Promise.