your life is newsworthy

I graduated from college with a journalism degree.  And for the past twelve years, I’ve been doing a job that has nothing to do with journalism.  I’m okay with this fact because I enjoy what I do.  My job allows me to live a life I truly enjoy.  Even though I don’t use my degree, I can’t ignore it.  I love a well-crafted nonfiction story.  I love one that’s interesting and full of rich details.  I love happy resolutions, but I realize life can have terrible endings too.  Sit at my table and I’ll happily listen to you ramble on and on about your life.  And then I’ll take my turn.  This banter could go on for hours.  I’m routinely asked to shorten or get to my point, but I like to squeeze in every single tidbit for the listener.  It should surprise no one that my love of the story transfers to my photography.
 
I don’t remember much before I was six years old and the years after are a little fuzzy.  When I watch my boys play, laugh, argue, and wrestle I am sad they won’t remember each detail as clearly as I do.  For the past three years, I’ve approached my life as magazine pictorial.   Until recently, I didn’t realize that I’ve been using my college degree to tell a story with my photography.  But now I fully embrace it.  I’ve become the photojournalist of my life because I’m responsible for the story my children will remember.  Good or bad, they will see it in our family albums.  The trips to visit family with cousins scattered around the living room.  Birthday wishes.  Conquering the potty while waving Good-bye to diapers.  But life isn’t full of unicorns and rainbows, the bad stuff has to be documented.  Tantrums.  Doctor visits.  Tears because independence wasn’t quite fully realized. The full plates of food pushed away at the dinner table.  I’m careful not over-sensationalize these less than happy moments, but albums void of them would not be truthful.  Years from now, if my boys struggle with their own parenting I hope they can look through our family albums and relate.  And I hope the photos will help them remember it was a good life: one worthy of documenting.  

I don’t believe you have to have a journalism degree to be a good photographer.  I didn’t touch a camera during college.  But it’s my love of an honest story and my desire to remember every detail.  And those are the types of photographers and photographs I’m attracted to.  I don’t have a disgust towards coffee mug shots, landscapes or posed newborn shoots, but those images don’t make my heart beat faster.  I want a photo that tells the story of someone’s life.  I want raw emotion.  And in my family, I’m the storyteller.  Why should I let anyone else tell my story?  

You can do the same thing.  Snap an image that will make you weep tears of joy when you’re in the Old Folk’s Home.  Shoot a scene that will show your children you were an amazing parent who tried their best.  Photograph your story.    Tell it with photos that are full of details, honesty, and real life blazing through the frame.  There’s no one more talented or more eloquent to tell the world.  You are the greatest storyteller of your Life.  Start now.

Share your story with me.  I’ve pulled up a chair and you’ve got my full attention.

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Today's guest post is from Erika Ray. Gabbing/communicating/gossiping is in her genes. Meet her mother and try to disagree with this statement. Plus her youngest son never stops talking, which feels like a loving payback from the universe. She uses her blog to report on life's celebrations, disasters, and to keep her sane.

Comments

[Anke]

I tell my story full of heart and soul on my blog every day...it so much fun to share!! Thank youfor the even further encouraging!!!

Smiles, Anke :)

www.ankemartin.blogspot.com

[xanthe]

Love you Erika! so good to see you here... i love your stories :)

[Roxanne]

Oh I love this... I especially love your insight on what it takes to be a photographer and where degrees, passion, qualifications or sheer creativity intersect and diverge.

A glimpse into my story, through photographs (and with some musical help from Bon Iver):

http://www.storiesofconflictandlove.com/2011/12/hello-again.html

[Emily]

So good to see your post on here. I love your stories. Funny because I have a journalism degree, too, and actually used it for a few years. But when I picked up the camera years and years later, I was at first more influenced by the trends, the big stupid bows, the over-smoothed skin. Now I've come home to my roots with my camera and it feels so good. Great post. xoxo

[rakusribut]

thanks for your post and for pulling up a chair :-))
here's one of my most compelling and intense stories
you are right about the importance of documenting the hard and raw moments in your life
i have tried to capture the naked truth with simple means
sometimes images tell a story more truthful than any words could

http://hipstamoments.blogspot.com/2012/02/er-with-mom.html

[Vanessa]

Erika! You're wonderful.
This is so true. I don't have a degree in journalism because I'm a loser college dropout..I blame that one on adult onset ADD...but I do love a good story, and I find that when words fail me my camera never does.
I immediately thought of the story of my kids' first day of school. This one was about me surviving the day and not having a total nervous breakdown.

http://www.vanessakim.com/?p=272

[Alison]

So good to see Erika over here! Her blog is just stellar - a daily must-read for me. Fabulous post - and thank you for boosting the courage to document daily life. The notes that are beautiful in their everydayness. Amen, sister.

[Kirstin]

What a fabulous post, Erika! I always appreciate your honesty about the challenges of parenthood. I am sure your boys will too. x

[Laine]

Wonderful post! Just the kick in the pants I needed. ;D I've been slacking lately in working on this. Thanks for the boost. :)

[mama-pan | mary frances]

so happy to see you in this space, erika!

I was happy with this pair of photos I took last week (one in comments)--together, I think they'll help me remember the breathtaking moment I saw but didn't photograph. and I hope the feelings shared will be ones the boys can someday access, at least a little:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98076237@N00/6912351045/

[Becky]

Fantastic post. This might be my favorite one yet.

[Joelynne]

GREAT to see you on here. Well written and thoughtful post. :)

[Adriana]

SO HAPPY to see you here. Thank you for the reminder that everyday life is worth shooting. I've been feeling a little humdrum lately about what to shoot and maybe what I need to shoot is right in front of me. Great post!

[Summer]

Your words. . . are so perfect. So beautiful. So true. I found myself reading and nodding my head the entire time. Thank you for putting so beautifully in words what I feel every day when I pick up my camera and record our story.

It began for me when I lost my Mom almost two years ago. I realized, at that time, that capturing our moments, recording our memories, and telling our story was important.

Thank you!

http://www.runningchatter.com/2012/02/permanent.html

[Kelly Warren]

Oh how I love this post. I don't have a journalism degree but I have a master's degree in English and am a writer at heart. While my day job doesn't encompass this as much (Director of Student Life at a college), I teach one writing class a term at night (yay!). I, too, write my stories on my blog both in words and in photos.

Here's my most moving "life stories" post: http://happyshackdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/12/10-years-of-lessons.html

And here's one of my favorite photos that I think captures a wonderful moment in my girls' childhood: http://happyshackdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-new-year-and-365-days-project.html

[Laura Louise]

You have such a gift! Truly wonderful post...full of truth, humor, and passion. So good to see you here!

[Valerie]

Oooo, thanks! I can relate.
Here's my sanity and my celebration: http://journeyleaf.typepad.com

[Deirdre (superdewa)]

Great post, Erika! I always love to see through your eyes and read what you have to say. Sadly being so open and honest gets harder as one's children get older. They don't want it all out there, and I have to respect that. Since most of my life is about them, that doesn't leave much. We have plenty of newsworthy things happening here, but I can only share them through veiled hints now.

[Gail O]

I have to admit that as an empty nester there are many days where my coffee mug is the most exciting thing I have to shoot:)! I do wish I had digital cameras when my girls were young...

[damiec]

I love your stories, and it's so wonderful to see one of them here!

last year we spent President's Day at Mt. Vernon. this year it was a walk along the towpath and exploring the graffiti-covered tunnels under Georgetown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/6774213860/

[Kristin Zecchinelli]

real life had me on my ass and covered in mud today.
and i shot this with you in mind.
XO
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/6775966790/in/photostream

[Cristen]

Posted today before I read this....not MY story, but definitely A story. A little funny...a little sad.

http://thelotaks.blogspot.com/2012/02/loss-of-legend.html

[Leah]

love your post! i thought of this photo right away.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leahhug/6776561348/

[Suzanne Gipson]

So awesome to see Erika over here! Love her work. I see a book in her future....

[Heather]

Thank you for this post! It's encouraging. You might like this story from over my holiday weekend: http://joyfulwise.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/why-im-not-a-photojournalist/

[Sarah Jane]

You do such a great job capturing your life, I love your blog & flickr-
everyday life photos get me the most too.
Great post, I always enjoy your writing as well.

[Joan Nova]

I really love this post. I've come back several times to re-read it.

[simply]

oh i hear ya...a photo can speak volumes just as clearly as it can be a reminder of what has once been...

my struggle with alopicia...

http://simplystork.blogspot.com/2009/10/alopecia.html