simple, soulful

"Your Style Statement is the two words that define the true you. It's a touchstone for making more powerful choices in your life – from your wardrobe to your living room, your relationships to your career plans. Your Style Statement is where your essence meets your expression." - Danielle LaPorte and Carrie McCarthy, Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design

Simple, soulful. I know it doesn't seem like much, yet defining my style statement has been an important milestone in my career and life as a creative soul. These two words have helped me make decisions about chairs and outfits, and enlightened my path whenever I wandered too far away from my true self. So when I was offered the opportunity to conduct an e-course on photography earlier this year, I couldn't think of better words to define it. 

The Simple Soulful Photography e-class (October 4-31) is a four-week workshop complete with lessons and challenges that will encourage you to find and express your authentic self through photography. I envisioned this e-class like I would arrange a meet-up with good friends in a small café. I come in early and journal while waiting patiently for familiar and friendly faces to appear. This place is our café. This is your place. Where imperfections are celebrated, insights are shared and souls are nurtured. A place where we support each other on our quest to finding our authentic self and building a more creative and fulfilling life.

I am most excited today to give away 3 registrations for the Simple Soulful Photography e-class. Please share with us your style statement or what words define your work and true, authentic self and leave a comment here to be entered in a random drawing between now and Monday 27th at midnight PST.

Update on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 by Irene Nam

thank you all so much for your comments. I truly loved reading them all, I know sharing your style statement was not easy for some of you.

And congratulations to Danielle (18th commentor), Chelsea (34th commentor) and Amy (8th commentor), you won a free registration for the Simple Soulful Photography e-class. I will email you the details directly soon. Can't wait to see you next week!

Again, thank you all for participating. I always feel bad when I do a random drawing because 1) I personally never win at those and I know the feeling very well 2) I wish I could invite you all to the e-course, I really do. So for those of you who are interested in this class but for some reason cannot participate this time, I'm creating a little something special for you. More soon. xo Irene

Comments

[jan]

My style is just developing, but I know when I capture something in my style. I aim for simple, expressive natural light shots. Thanks!

[Suki]

I thought a lot about what words describe my true and authentic self.
It's hard to label myself admitting not being perfect. Cause I'd like to.

Restless. Tender. Emotional.

Those are my words.

[Runa]

Romance, thats me. Natural light, black&white and beautiful soft colors.

[Jan]

I think my style is capturing a glimpse of my subject as they "really" are, not the posed look we see so many times. I love candid, natural light shots.

[CDScott]

Looking at my photography, wardrobe, home furnishings, hairstyle, shoe collection and writing samples, the words that come to my mind are "quirky mod". I take what is chic, conventional and spin it to make it my own.

[Jennifée]

Huh - I never even gave a thought to formulating any kind of style statement for myself. I think two words that might be right for me, though, are eclectic and determined. I wear what I like, decorate with what I like, work with what I want to rather than with what is sensible, without any kind of devotion to fashion or a particular style.

[Nancy]

Soulful - so full moments of presence and life right there in the moment. No staging, no manipulation.

[Amy]

What a cool idea! I think my style statement would be bright, uncluttered, and balanced.

[Stephanie]

I think I am still discovering my own style for my work. Right now its somewhat candid, natural, but vibrant.

[Joan]

What a great opportuntiy, thanks. I relaly haven't thought about my style statement. For now it would be simple and emotional.

[DawnS]

I love the "Style Statement" book...if books can be beautiful, this one certainly is. My 2 words are Composed Sunshine :)

[Cathy P]

My style (so far!) is quirky & colorful but I'm constantly evolving!

[deea]

Hmmmm - - Evocative Inspirational. or maybe, Impromptu Dreamer. or maybe, Inhale Exhale. or ummm, Walter Mitty...

[nallely prater]

I am also in the journey to finding my style. I know that what I love capturing most are true moments. Carpe diem!

[erika]

I'd say that my style is real. I try real hard to show how real life is. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't & clean the table first, but that's a lie. My tables always have a few crumbs lingering.

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

This is the second time I've seen something about a style statement. I haven't read it yet, but I think it might be time to pick it up.

Words that come to mind for me are TIMELESS & PURE.

That might change after I read the book, though :D

~WW

[arlene]

I think my words are genuine and true. I want my photos to be genuine and true to the subject matter. Whether it's my wiggly 1 year old great niece or 92 year old father in law. I like the photo to tell a story. On the other hand, I like true photos - just catching a moment that I want to remember without trying to compose a shot and all that stuff. It sounds like a great class! Still loving "Expressive Photography" - it was worth waiting months for! :)

[Danielle]

I love capturing glimpses. Glimpses of what was going on in at a certain time in someone's life. What a great giveaway!!

[Kerstin]

I have heard of the Style Statement before, thanks for the reminder. I love the idea of choosing two words that help you make decisions and enlighten the path. Personally it is not so easy for me to choose these two words because I often feel as though my essence is obscured by too many fears and complex layers of personality. "Complex" was actually one of the words that sprang to my mind, until I realized that this is not my essence. Anyway, I need to give this some more thought but for now I think that these two words may come close: peaceful, light. Thank you!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcmartin/4410594108/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcmartin/4980544675/

[Laura]

This sounds like a great book; I'm definitely going to read it! I've been trying to figure out my style for a little while now, and I think that at this point in time my style statement is genuine and introspective.

[Toni]

I'm not brave enough to define my style.
I'm a beautiful, jumbled mess of creativity and self-doubt.

[Angella]

I love almost anything in natural light...and often edit to black and white.

[Erin Faye]

my style statement is:

Artistic | Natural | Real

[Barbi]

Not sure if I have a style yet but I do like to focus in on the subject, crop tightly, I guess is the term. I often take things out of a shot if something is distracting from the subject. I am a mom of two beautiful girls so they are my common subjects. Thanks for a chance to win, you may just "see" me whether I win or not! This looks like a great e-class.

[Kathy]

Natural. Inspired.

Really tough to think of just two words to say it all!

[kristen]

i love style statement! the first time i worked through, my words weren't me. months later, when i was trying to figure out what my style statement was, especially in relation to my design aesthetic and also the way i dress, i worked through the book again and found me: modern bohemian.

[charlane]

i see myself as warm, loving and cozy and i hope my photography reflects that.

[tracy]

that is a great book! my style is simply natural... this e-course sounds wonderful!

[cjaxon]

Bright and shiny. I like when my pictures not only LOOK bright but when you can see that the moment it captures was bright and shiny, too.

[Beth]

Still working on it but happy, hopeful, dreamer.

[bridge]

Dreamy and timeless. That is my style. Thanks for encouraging me to say it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ridethewavesoflife/3078649463/in/set-72157621292476537/

[D Smith Kaich Jones]

sacred/aware. i hated it - hated being aware, but knew the truth of it immediately. people are fine with the sacred part, but aware makes them uncomfortable - i've known this since i was a child. aware is scary, that ability to read between the lines, the knowing of a truth or lie. i try to keep it to myself. it is never easy.

[Elizabeth]

My style statement would have to be natural and authentic. It is who I am.

[Chelsea]

I love this idea! So much so, that I just purchased Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design on Amazon :) I'm not able to pinpoint exactly my style without the full book experience but I've been toying with "Upcycle Magic."

[sarai]

I think I'm still finding my style... but for now, I would say my words are "life" & "vibrant."

[melissa]

i love your style statement, irene...simple soulful. delicious. i have been marinating for two years in danielle laporte's books and still have yet to birth the 'two words'...but my essence is definitely about love, art and alchemy. thank you for this generous offering.

[Angie Willis]

I think my two style statements would be Alive and Graphic. I hasten to add that this is not where I think my photography is at the moment, but where I am aiming for.

[Bettina]

Truth and beauty.... My mother taught me to see... to stop and look and see the beauty. It's every where, in every thing. That's what i search for.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4978371743/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4884083743/in/photostream/

[gilding lilies]

I've been think about this a lot lately. My style seems to incorporate two very different styles, and then I attempt to blend them together. I love a very contemporary aesthitic and a clean vintage country vibe. So I'm always trying to blend those two things.
I loved reading everyones style statements, it's so interesting.
I would love to win the e-course.
To see my style visit
http://gildingliliesjournal.blogspot.com

[Marni~]

I think I am still developing my style. I find that how I see things through my lens and how I process photos is really depends on how I am feeling that day. This gets me thinking that perhaps I should me more consistent.
Two words I can think of right now in my photographic journey would be sensitive/caring.
I would like opportunity to explore this a little more.

[Jackie]

I love the Style Statement book and have worked through it once, though I'm tempted to do it again! What I found was that I'm Sacred/Creative (though I question the creative at times, with the blocks I've been having lately), but the sacred definitely fits.

[joey]

I guess I would call my style Playful and Loving, because right now it is all about my family.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/4341405323/

[Audra Van Vliet]

Nostalgic, casual portraiture, close-up, documentary in a way, sometimes candid, really relaxed shoot atmosphere. I don't like kids to get all dressed up. It makes them feel like I am the boss and that they require strict instruction. If I allow them to wear what they want, they tend to start off in a good mood.

I am not really a location shooter. never take kids to the middle of the field to shoot them. I try to keep them comfortable in their own surroundings. I get some of my best pictures by not saying a word, and just watching for them to either laugh or give me an awkward smile. Right now I shoot mostly children, but I have adults coming more and more my way. And they want and love the direction. Two totally different animals, adults and children.

My blog is pretty much just a photoblog, not a lot of the written word, which is how I would like to keep it.
http://lastpictureshowphotography.blogspot.com/

[Audra Van Vliet]

Nostalgic, casual portraiture, close-up, documentary in a way, sometimes candid, really relaxed shoot atmosphere. I don't like kids to get all dressed up. It makes them feel like I am the boss and that they require strict instruction. If I allow them to wear what they want, they tend to start off in a good mood.

I am not really a location shooter. never take kids to the middle of the field to shoot them. I try to keep them comfortable in their own surroundings. I get some of my best pictures by not saying a word, and just watching for them to either laugh or give me an awkward smile. Right now I shoot mostly children, but I have adults coming more and more my way. And they want and love the direction. Two totally different animals, adults and children.

My blog is pretty much just a photoblog, not a lot of the written word, which is how I would like to keep it.
http://lastpictureshowphotography.blogspot.com/

[leanne]

LOVE style statement! i bought it when it first came out a couple of years ago, and would recommend it to anyone....but anything with danielle laporte's signature on it is worth checking out, in my opinion. : )
my style statement feels too personal to share, but some words that define my work are soulful, authentic, joyful, brave, and full of love!

[Diane]

The two words I use are:

genuine . soft

[Emme]

I LOVE that book. It set me on a new path too, and now that I'm thinking about it, I'd love to go through it again. My style statement is "Sacred Organic" (or Sensual Organic, I can't decide) :)

[lucy]

my style is intimate and vintage, focusing on details and a sense of age and permanence.

[Deb Zorn]

My style? Simple, Joyful. These word represent my life and definitely describe the kind of photos I like to take.

[stacy a]

I'm still trying to find my style but if I had to describe it right now... simple, candid, capturing everyday moments