Let's be honest. You don't think much about who you are until you have to (in actual words) describe yourself.
I'm on this subject because I've been drafting text for the "About Us" section of the new website (I've mentioned this...coming soon). I've changed it ten-thousand times already, because I haven't yet found two sentences that fit just right. That's right, it's about a paragraph. Take this blog post as proof that I'm not short of things to say...it's just sometimes less is harder. Maybe because less it more. Haha. Sorry.
My Mom is awesome
Even though it was very short, when I wrote the part for mom it just made sense - because
I know who she is to me. She may read it and think "What the heck was she on!?". But there are things that you can know about someone else that may not make your own radar. I know she's a gifted artist, I've spent my life around her watching the things she creates. She can very literally make just about anything, always with near professional results. Wood carvings, drawings, paintings, any wood project, lithographs, calligraphy and of course, photography. For example she (with no prior experience) made an ice carving for my wedding, and my brother's wedding. It's ridiculous!
I know that she really does care about the people that we work with, and the final product from our sessions(this is one area we're a lot alike in...see my perfectionism below). I also found out the other day that she prays for each couple we work with - for their relationship, their lives together and the faithfulness of their love. To me that's awesome - even if you don't see eye-to-eye with us on our beliefs (in Jesus Christ), I think you can recognize that as the mark of someone who really cares.
Granted I've spent my entire life around her, and may be vaguely biased, but she is an amazing person. Of course she would never tell you this, and may or may not agree with my assessment, because she is also very humble.
I'm a totally different person.
Now I'll tell you what I think about myself...since writing about myself is what's got myself in such an uproar. (Yes I know I mis-used "myself" there, but it made me think of Austin Powers and that was kind of funny.) I realize this is borderline stream of consciousness, but bear with me, it could be fun.
Sometimes I'm a talk first and think later kind of girl, but I'm learning to get a grip on that. :)
I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my creations - photo shoots, websites, crafts anything I
make. For things I make, even perfect isn't perfect enough. I can refine and refine and refine until I drive myself crazy. I usually do. But on the other hand this means my brides get something awesome. Which I love. Which may also contribute a little to my mania. (For everyone who's been to my house and is right now screaming "HOLD THE PHONE!!!" This doesn't apply to my house. I'm learning to get a grip on that, too.)
In regards to photography, I know what I like to see and I can usually make that happen.
I love weddings. I loved weddings before I worked in weddings. Everything about them is so cool, but now that I'm married I love weddings even more (because it reminds me of my own, duh!). Weddings have evolved into such a neat tradition...I mean, a lot of things about wedding tradition seems to stem from "the olden days" when the bride was a captive and the wedding party was there to keep her from getting away, rather than join the bride and groom in celebration. Now, each wedding is so personalized a celebration that when you go to a couple's wedding, you get a glimpse into the love story that they have come to join together. That's right, I'm just waiting for a glimpse into people's lives...kind of like a mental peeping tom. Ha. Jussst Kiddding. But in all seriousness, one of the reasons I like doing this so much is because I get to be the 'bridge' between that day and the rest of a couple's lives. So that when they forget any of the good things that brought them together, they can look at the images we took and it will bring that moment back. Sappy, I know. Hush.
Also,(follow me here...) I realize that because in photography we're playing with light, it isn't always about capturing exactly what is there (what everyone else sees with their eyes). The camera allows the photographer to capture what we want to see to a certain degree (it's not magic.). It's an opportunity to take something away from a scene that may be just a little more beautiful, or a little more perfect than it was through our eyes. It lets us take away something from the wedding day that
looks the same way it
felt. Which is amazing. Maybe it is a little magic.
So I know all that, but I can't get together a couple sentences that explains it very well. Why is it so hard to articulate to someone else who we are? Maybe I don't see about myself the things that would be easy to articulate.
For instance, I have one particularly wonderful friend who feels as though "single" is the word that describes them. What does that even mean? It doesn't say
anything about this person, but they think it does. If we're looking for a short description for them, it should read something like "Loyal friend, intelligent conversationalist, well-educated classy , fun loving hockey fan who also has great taste in clothes and accessories.". But those are things other people think about you, and things most people don't think about themselves. Unless you are really arrogant, which we may have to cover in another post.
Wait a minute. I may have just had a true revelation, live, here "on the air" today. Well maybe not. But maybe I should get someone who knows me to write my two "About Me" sentences, because maybe I can only see the things that I've chosen to see. Like my friend.
Which would make it hard to write about oneself...
That's all for now...
Kristin
P.S. Here's a photo. When you look closely, this dragonfly is really pretty. (If I haven't mentioned it before, you can enlarge all my post photos by clicking on them.)
