What Really Matters

What happens when you choose once and for all to put what matters to you in the viewfinder, regardless of who approves or understands?

What happens when you claim your craft, your art, your expertise and stop asking anyone more established or proficient or experienced to say it's good enough?

What happens when you throw away the rule book and all the measuring sticks and just say what you were afraid to say all along?

I am a photographer.  Here is my work.  Learn from it.  Let it speak to you.

In many ways, this is what publishing Expressive Photography has meant to Tracey and the rest of us here at Shutter Sisters.  Many of us are not professionally trained photographers.  Most of us learned how to use our cameras on our own, asking questions from whoever had the time or patience to listen.  Some of us didn't know this was a passion until we looked through the lens at our ordinary lives and realized we were bearing witness to honest beauty and real magic.

Like many of you, our education in photography came over years, hand and hand with our own personal development.  While we were learning about aperture, composition and shutter speed, we were also mastering the art of how to see, how to really see what's worth honoring in an everyday life.

Not everyone will appreciate our particular contribution to the photography conversation at large.  A quick scan of certain reviews and the Shutter Sisters inbox reveals that Expressive Photography has actually riled some members of the old guard--an outdated and small contigent of the fading old boys club that has dominated the professional photography scene for so long. 

But times are changing.  At this particular moment in history, it's no longer enough to have the longest lens or the most sophisticated mastery of your technical skills.  What matters is your ability to infuse your work with heart and soul--whether you're standing on the fields of Rwanda watching two young girls wait for a miracle or whether the miracle is already standing in your own backyard. 

This is why we wrote Expressive Photography.  We believe in what you see, and we know that this book will inspire and help you show everything your soul already knows about what matters the very most.

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Today, on this last day of the month where our One Word Project encouraged you to "express" yourself, we're asking those of you who have read our book to leave your comment in the review section of Expressive Photography at Amazon.  One line will do.  Help us tell the world why expressive photography matters--no matter what your point of view.

Comments

[Marcie]

Established - over the years - are all sorts of photographic 'rules'. I'm sure those who are critiquing the book..are referring to those archaic guidelines from which to judge by.
I - personally - have chosen to disregard them..and shoot from my heart. Haven't - yet - had a chance to look at the book..but I'd think you could ignore all of the nay-sayers and be proud for what you'all have accomplished.
Here's a broken rule of mine - today:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1311

[marina]

Thank you so much Jen for these words and the beautiful photo!
I have promised myself that Expressive Photography will be my Christmas gift to myself. This means that I have to wait three more months to read it, and until then I cannot write my comment on Amazon (I am very sorry about this decision today!).
And I am not a professional photographer. I am a person who loves photographing. And I have learned so much by visiting this wonderful site, and looking at all the amazing pictures you feature here, and reading your words.
One of the things I am learning is to trust my heart when shooting, as I have done in this picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/5037228722/
As Marcie has written, be proud for what you all have accomplished!!!

[Vanessa]

the vision, the commitment, the passion and com-passion that embodies what you do every day, the path you've chosen -you jen, and all you other shutter sisters (even the early learners like me!)-, well, this post sums it all up and gives me goosebumps. goosebumps of pride and a kind of lump in my throat that tastes a lot like conviction. i can't swallow it because it's meant to be there. making images that mean something to me is something i can't shake the yearning for. it is stronger than the self-consciousness i feel when i am around my professional photographer friends (the ones who think that what i do is "cute" in that family album kind of way. the ones who think about shooting exclusively in terms of the fee it will earn them or prize it will win them). it is stronger than the force that silences me when i am around them and a voice inside me wants to scream: "what i do matters too! it is valid! there is room in this world for all of us. and there is no need to judge." i know that i can communicate through my images. express myself. that is enough.

my copy of Expressive Photography hasn't arrived yet -amazon.co.uk hasn't shipped to ireland yet :( but i'm so excited to pour over my copy and i just know that it will be a powerful source of inspiration for me. thank you, sisters. i cannot wait.

[xanthe]

oh jen..... your. words. are. perfect.
thank you. x.

[Jill F]

Expressive Photography means I'm finding the real me--not just my photographer's voice but on many levels.

[Angel]

Expressive Photography is sharing a piece of me and my heart with others.

[amy z]

I think it's about damn time for the old guard to retire. This site has given me so much more than other gear-focused, male-dominated, by-the-book sites over the years. I get tired of the pissing matches between Nikonistas and Canonites, and the slams on noobs...I just wanna make great images. Even though I lurk here most of the time, I still feel part of a big family, part of this incredible whole that's filled with creative goodness and love and support. I have grown so much in the time that I started visiting ShutterSisters, and cannot thank you all enough. I have Expressive Photography added to my Amazon wish list, and just have to wait for timing to work out to purchase it. I can't wait, as I imagine it's a printed copy of the same sort of fantastic writing I find here. (Ooooo...something I can TOUCH!) Without reading it, I've already recommended it to friends. Keep putting these creative vibes out there; the universe is listening!

[Suki]

An artists unique view can never be judged.
Thank you for your words today.
And I totally need to get my hands on a copy of your marvoulus book.

[Patricia Davidson]

Wonderful and inspiring write-up! I am not a trained professional photographer either, but photography for me is a way to express myself in every aspect. Being that I've always been an artist person, it was a natural transition for me. I love how my shots capture the joy I feel in seeing the everyday scenes and objects I come across in my little part of the world.

I can't wait to place an order with your new book! I know it will be great! Thanks for sharing!

Hope everyone finds inspiration somewhere in your day! http://www.flickr.com/photos/pddesigns/5014012586/lightbox/

[Jennifer]

Precisely.

[melody]

My fave photography book ever.

Shared my love at Amazon a couple days ago.

[Silvia]

I'm really new to Shutter Sisters but i already love it and can't wait to read / see each new post ... thank you so much for today's - it applies to so much more than photography too - to everyone in the arts, fighting for their voice to be heard, feeling that they need formal recognition and that boy's club approval behind them to be worth anything - i am loving how many women are out there saying we don't need or want that anymore - we are working from the heart and we want soulfulness in our work, we are finding our own voices and paths ... it's a new wind blowing and I love it. Thank you so much for today's post.

[gina]

I haven't read your book yet but I love this blog and it has inspired me to be free and expressive and enjoy what I am doing because it is good enough .... because although not professional it is lovely and it speaks my heart. Continue on regardless of the naysayers I am applaudimg at this end of the cyberspace!!

[mosey]

I don't have the money for a large format camera or multiple lenses. I've got one camera, one lens. But it has allowed me to be creative and express my own point of view in such a life changing way. I don't even have the book yet (waiting for my birthday in December!), but I know it will say all the things that are most appropos to my personal experience of photography. Can't wait.

[Bettina]

OH THANK YOU!!!! .... what more can i say THANK YOU!!!! I just picked up a DSLR camera for the first time in February, i dont know anything about photography... but i shoot and i shoot... and your daily blog is like a daily lesson for me. I got the book, and its a treasure! I open a page, grab my camera and go!!!!

I have wanted to ask, when do you become a "photographer". Right now, i am just a woman taking pictures... i love it.. and THANK YOU!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4884585886/

[Deirdre]

I would love it if you would use Amazon's "search inside this book" feature. It would be nice to be able to see what the book is like before purchasing it.

[Kat]

I love the idea of the "old guard" getting riled up about this. That they are uncomfortable that there is a new way of learning, seeing and expressing ourselves through photography. You have made a difference!

[Meghan]

LOVE this post, Jen!!! xo

[Liz//Tipping Point Photography]

True story:

Last Saturday I had back-to-back sessions with two families who were new clients. The first, a family of five farm kids, ages 2 through 12. The second, a family of five with very active boy-girl twins and one younger girl, all under the age of 7. Word of the day: CHAOS. And lots of it. Organizing the kids was difficult. Getting them all to look and smile at the same time was just short of impossible.

I have built my business around the idea of "bearing witness to honest beauty and real magic"--even if that means a screaming, crying 2 year old--but I was tested this weekend. I wondered if that was going to be enough, if the clients would be happy. In the end, happy was a gross understatement--they were THRILLED with the results. In the words of one mom, "You captured our 'real life'." And I think that's definitely the best service any of us could ever provide.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tippingpointphoto/5032174660/

Thank you, Jen, for articulating this so well! And congratulations to all of you Sisters on the book! Can't wait to get my hands on it. :o)

[brandi]

this is exactly what I needed to read today as usually, I'M the one telling myself that I'm not as good as X because I'm not 'officially' trained.

No more. My photography is beautiful because I'm expressing my heart and more importantly-that's what I'm drawn to in other photographers. The REAL.

thank you for this post.

[tracy]

To have riled the establishment means you're onto something VERY BIG!

Congratulations to the Sisters for telling the world that heart and soul are the new way!

[Jessica New Fuselier]

My sister (Tracey Clark) is one of the most beautiful things on this entire earth.
Thank you for capturing her in such a way. Thank you for sharing the portrait with all of us.
I will treasure this photograph.

And THANK YOU for being one of her very Best Friends...

xo, Jessica

[Shannan]

I started my own photography business a few years ago when I found myself out of work. I had no real technical knowledge of the camera and I found myself trying to create photographs of people and weddings like what I saw in books and from my competition. I've learned true art doesn't work that way. You can't mold yourself into something else, you have to act from the heart and over time your art will evolve.

This site and book is an inspiration and let's me know that my pictures do not have to be technically perfect, as long as I shoot from the heart and find truth in what I am shooting.

[Tina]

After reading your post I was concerned that you'd been reading my mind for a few days!

I've noticed that my photography and post production has changed. Until recently I read too many photography magazines. Magazines obsessed with a perfect histogram, exposure and much use of the unsharp mask in Photoshop.

Almost every aspect of my life is changing at the moment, it's scary. In those fleeting brave moments it's exciting.
I'm learning to be kinder to myself and that is showing itself in my photography. If I like the way it looks...........I shoot it.......and, damn the histogram, I try to leave it alone once it's out of my camera (she's called Claudia :-)

A few definitely imperfect, but pleasing to me, samples below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74687897@N00/5039997048/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74687897@N00/5037422824/in/photostream/

[68beats ( meggie )]

Amazing post.
Love you ,ladies xo

[Trude]

Yes, yes, yes, all of it - yes! I'm hoping to get this book for my birthday next week. :)

[camerashymomma]

yes yes! thank you for voicing this jen (for all of us, you speak for me most definitely) leave it to a strong empowered sisterhood who embraces heart, soul & kindness to rock the boat full of old farts. (yes, i said it! old farts! i'm good friends with an old fart but he agrees that the world needs this shift)

the truth is: the world needs rocking, the world needs more soul in photography, my local camera shop (which is male dominated) needs rocking. photography is powerful. that is the truth. this is the evolution of art. there will always be critics judging those who think outside the box.

xo

[Marianne LoMonaco]

I love this post. Thank you for write it.

[tracy]

your words have touched my soul. i am in tears. i am in gratitude. thank you for this post. shutter sisters is inspiring beyond words.

and this most amazing book! I bought it the minute it was available. i just knew it would be simply perfection. and it is. I will happily post a review on amazon.

oh, and here is my grateful photo-journal entry from 3 days ago... http://tracylarsen.posterous.com/36512

[thea]

So beautifully put. It is the connection and the heart that speaks to me most in photographs....thanks for expressing these thoughts. Beautiful written.

[Adam]

You rock. This post rocks. The final authority on any matter, photography or otherwise, should always be you, not someone with a bigger lens or someone with a bigger resume. Even as you make mistakes, even as you do things differently, even as you do them your own way. This is each and every person's birthright.

This doesn't prohibit seeking advice from those who have gained wisdom over the years, but in the end, the final authority is always you.

[Lindsey]

Love this photo of you Tracey! I was more than happy to leave glowing review for the wonderfully inspiring book -Expressive Photography. There will always be people who will try to bring you down, we are the new generation of photographers! Love us or leave us - there.

((group hug))

[diane]

just purchased the book and haven't yet read it. I am brand new to this site. Here's my two cents -in matters of expression of the heart and soul, in matters of art, in matters of beauty , in matters of business - who is anyone to be the judge and jury of what is a "good" photograph, who is worthy of being paid for their photography, what is art, what is beauty? The truth is that we all have different ways that we seek and speak our authentic selves. So much of what I read on your site are words that have come out of me about my own work and the work of those that I have inspired. Judgement is nothing more than insecurity and ignorance in disguise. Let your wisdom guide you every step of the way. You are inspiring so many woman to learn to live authentic lives. Thank you!!