Why mentoring matters

One thing I wish I would have done when I first started my photography journey was to

INVEST IN MYSELF….I guess I just didn't know that well….I didn't know. I stumbled through some

pretty rough shoots and even worse pictures before I gradually learned ( by mistake )

I won't even mention how long it took before I knew what White Balance was.

I could have saved myself about two years and a lot of mediocre work by educating myself and

investing in my business from the get go. Not to mention skipping

that whole "charge $50 "  point in my career where I was basically

making a dollar an hour ( Said Napoleon Dynamite style )

Sure you can teach yourself…..sure you can youtube how to do something and sure you

can take good pictures once in a while

Mine were usually on accident….

but eventually you'll outgrow your own knowledge, your camera and your ability to improve on your own.

It's true that you can't buy success….you can't hire me to make you fabulous. That's all on you.

However,

You can't paint the Mona Lisa with a box of crayons either.

a Mentors  job is to hand you the paint brush and the tools you need to create the paintings/pictures you hoped for.

Here's a peek at some of my students before and afters….

Whoa….how'd he get in here….

I feel humbled and blessed these days that I'm the educator and I LOVE doing it. I've met some pretty amazing women

all over the United States and when I bought my first DSLR ( at Costco woot ) I NEVER thought it would lead me here.

I owe my own transformation and push to improve to my workshop partner Hannah Hilliard

of Hannah Hilliard Photography

I had a visit from a past "Master of Fun  Workshop" attendee who was ready for more hands on training and

she flew here last week to play!

we had our hands full with four beautiful newborns and  I had to share what we were up too.

For those of you who have the desire to improve and take the next step forward , I'd suggest you

find someones work you love, whether they rock at weddings, seniors, babies whatever you want to specialize in

and invest in THEM and YOURSELF. Learn from them all you can  and you'll be glad you did!

After alll…..if you do what you've always done..you'll get what you've always gotten.