Criticism.

I don't deal with criticism well. I never really like to admit that but it's the truth. Anytime someone criticizes my art it is extremely hard for me to swallow. (I know they don't mean to be rude, but like I said, I don't take criticism well). The first thing I want to do is yell at them for being mean and then go off into a corner somewhere and cry. I'm really big on pity parties. But I'm trying to change.

My New Year's resolution was to be myself. And I know what you're thinking, "how can you not be yourself, you're always you" but really I'm not. A lot of times, when I'm with other people, I tend to just agree with everything they say. It's like I don't have opinions. But I do, and that's what my resolution is all about. I want people to know what I like, who I am. And I really despise people who just go along with anything and it was brought to my attention lately (thanks mom) that I am one of those people. The problem is I'm not very good at expressing my opinions without being rude. I'm working on that.

I realized today that these two things aren't unrelated. There have been so many times where if I do something, and someone says something bad about it, I just quit. But my photography, all of my art, is for me. I don't do it for anyone else. Sure, maybe someday people will pay for my photographs but right now I'm just doing it because I enjoy it. I love that I can preserve a small piece of time forever in a photograph.

I know that there will always be critics and I know that not all of them are just being mean. It's all about how you take the criticism. So, I'm going to be positive about it and use it to improve.

So, feel free to comment (and criticize). I can take it. :)

Natural Disaster

"I don't know what this girl is after
She's a natural, natural disaster"
-Plain White T's

Don't you just love snow? My mom and I braved the cold to get some good pictures and this is what I came up with! The one below is probably my favorite even though I messed up the focusing a little. I'm trying to learn how to use back button focusing and it definitely takes some practice!

My mom didn't want me to take pictures of her but I couldn't resist! I love the way snowflakes look in your hair.

Chugga-Chugga-Choo-Choo! Isaac's turning two!

Introducing Isaac (and my new blog)! Isaac is my adorable little cousin who agreed to be my first model in my very first photo shoot.


Actually, this wasn't really my photo shoot. The amazing and fabulous Courtney Steele was the photographer and she very graciously let me shoot with her. So, we did this shoot together.

This is Courtney on the left!

As long as I'm being honest, I should probably say that Isaac has already turned two. His birthday was in October so I'm a little late with this post. Oops.

Also, in case anyone was wondering, all of these photos were taken with my Canon Elan 7ne film camera.