Monday, August 16, 2010

Following Through

Doing what you say you're going to do can be tough.
At least for me.
I seem to suffer from chronic not-following-through-syndrome.
It all began circa two-thousand-and-six.

I'd always planned on going to law school. It sounded like a good enough plan.
So, I chose a major (Criminal Justice) and declared myself as "pre-law."
I'll never understand why my parents let me pick Criminal Justice. I'm pretty much qualified to be a Cop or a mall security guard. Thankfully I have a business minor.
I met with the pre-law advisor every few months and studied for the LSAT. I took the LSAT, and I actually did pretty well. However, I procrastinated and didn't get my applications in until the very last day at 12 am - I'm not kidding.
I actually cancelled my first date with Reed to finish those dang applications!
When I didn't get into law school immediately, I freaked out, got really embarrassed and withdrew my application. Fear of rejection?? Let's just say I never pursued that avenue ever again.

Later in 2007 I married Reed.
Turns out the man upstairs really knows what he's doing... being married to a lawyer reminds me every day that it was a blessing in disguise that I didn't go to law school. The majority of it sounds rather boring and I don't think I'm cut out for a desk job.
Confused and desperate to find a career, I completed the 60 hour course that is required to obtain an Alabama Real Estate License.
I never took the state exam.

Then I decided to take the GMAT. Lord.
This was yet another attempt at grad school. I did OK on the test.
Good enough to get into UAB, but I never even applied!
Are you seeing a trend?? What is wrong with me?
During the whole GMAT/MBA period, I got a job at a big law firm in Birmingham in the recruiting department. I worked there for about a year and happily quit shortly before Chappell was born. It was then that I realized I would not, could not (been reading a lot of Green Eggs and Ham lately) ever have a boss again.
Well, if it's at all possible.
I'm kind of a control freak, and being bossed around has never really been my thing.

The whole point of all of this rambling and rather embarrassing admission is:
I {think} I finally know what I want to do.

I'm signing up for a Photography Certificate Program. I haven't signed up yet, but I'm hoping that by posting this, I will go ahead and just do it!
It's for "students who want to go into photography as a career or earn extra income and receive a certificate."

I know that my photographs are just average now... but I'm hoping that the class + some new equipment + Photoshop will fix that.
None of my photos on this blog have been Photoshopped. I don't even own Photoshop.

This will be a process, that is for sure.
I'm not saying that I (necessarily) want to be a professional. But if a year from now, I'm a half decent photog, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea.
I love photography and I love taking pictures of babies and children even more.
If I could earn a living doing what I love, what could possibly be better?

When Chappell was about 6 months old, my dad gave me his Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT.
It was like Christmas... in July (truly).
Dad, thank you for giving me one of your most favorite "toys." If you know my dad, you know how much he loves his cameras.
*My dad was a sports photographer back in the day... and a good one at that! He has a few magazine covers and is friends w/ a few professional tennis stars (from the 70's) that he used to photograph. Pretty neat!

I even inherited his famous "DON'T DROP MY CAMERA!!" face!!

IMG_3971

Here are a few of my faves from the Rebel... pre-instruction.

Chappell's Birth 334 copy
9monthsold 065
10monthsold 06510monthsold 097IMG_2844IMG_2970IMG_2954IMG_2965IMG_2940IMG_2922IMG_3006IMG_3044IMG_3112IMG_3187IMG_3216IMG_3243IMG_3293IMG_3287IMG_3332IMG_3368IMG_3473IMG_3651IMG_3652ChappyPinkSuitIMG_3715IMG_3714IMG_4000IMG_4092IMG_4143


New York post still coming!

4 comments:

Erin Caden Rogers said...

Fabulous idea! You can do it! And, you take beautiful pics. I'm also a procrastinator but I've always been one;)

Katie Howard said...

Yes!

Photoshop is so much fun! Do this: Download a trial version for free then go to The Pioneer Woman website and download some of her free actions for Photoshop. Play around and you will be addicted!

Best of luck!!!

Katie Mac

Anonymous said...

I am so far behind too! So just reading this. I am so happy you're doing it!!! I admire your pics and think you'd be a great photog. William just got a big boy camera too and is taking classes. He cannot believe how hard it is, which make me even more impressed with your shots. I love the cotton field. My birthday is in Feb, and I's love a copy ;)

Anne said...

it blows my mind that you didn't use photoshop on any of those! They're awesome!

I must get a new camera - I bought a book called Understanding Exposure off Amazon - had great reviews for budding photogs... but, like you, I never followed through!!

Go see http://zoomyummy.com/photography/ for some great photo editing stuff.... and email me for a photoshop *hint* !!

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