hello soul hello business

Sometimes I forget what it was like way back when; when I was bright eyed and bushy tailed, just out of college, eager to begin a creative career. I had no idea what it was going to be, but I knew it was going to be awesome. Seriously. I had NO idea. Not exactly the kind of thing a father wants to hear from his new college grad but I didn’t doubt it for a second. I knew that I would forge out a creative career for myself; somehow, some way , doing something I loved.

I found photography. Or maybe photography found me. I’m not sure which.

But it could have been anything I suppose. I was open. I only had a few simple (yet imperative) criteria. It had to be something that I was passionate about, something that coaxed out my most creative self and allowed me to be me.

Fast forward to now and my path from there to here might sound enchanted. I won’t deny that there was a little of that along the way but for the most part it took a lot. A lot of work. A lot of learning. A lot of time. A lot of perseverance. A lot.

Way back then, there wasn’t the internet the way it is today. There weren’t ways to find the other people in the world that were trying to do the same thing I wanted to do, the same way I wanted to do it. It made it that much more difficult and often that more isolating.

Enter the splendor of the World Wide Web! We are alone no more! I cannot even imagine what my path would have looked like if I had the bounty of creative resources that there are today. Communities, classes, websites, women, inspiration, encouragement, support…the list goes on and on. And it’s bright and shiny and full of beautiful potential!

If you are uncovering and discovering your creative bliss—whatever it may be—I want to encourage you to take full advantage of all the amazing offerings that are out there, right at our finger tips. Leap. Learn. Launch. Run. Jump. Fly. Just go for it! You’ve got nothing to lose. It’s never too early or too late to become an entrepreneur; to pave your way as successful creative, making money doing what you love.

The new e-course by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nichols, Hello Soul Hello Business is exactly the kind of opportunity I wished I had way back when I was starting out. Two incredibly enthusiastic, crazy talented, and business savvy women willing to spill the beans on all the stuff I wanted and needed to know. I may not have had them then, but I have them now and all I have to say is let the revolution begin!

Share with us what you’re excited about this year? Are you taking a leap? We can’t wait to hear all about your awesome plans! Hello 2012! And if you choose to start your year with Hello Soul Hello Business, I'll see you there.

A new year, a new word

 

Happy New Year! We made it…together.  Another year behind us, a brand new one ahead.

Oh, the bright and beautiful possibilities!

It’s that time again, for setting our intentions, making our own personal creative goals and exploring new ways of being in the world. For the last few years, we’ve joined collective energy with our dear friend Ali Edwards through her One Little Word tradition. Way back when, at the start of our One Word Project, it was Ali that inspired us and proved that indeed, One Little Word could make a really Big difference in our creative journeys.

Today, we kick off this month of beginnings with YOUR word. We did it last year, just like this; asking YOU to celebrate YOUR word all month long for the One Word Project, in honor of One Little Word. YOUR word. Share it with us here in the comments and in our OWP Flickr group and who knows, YOUR word might be featured here!

So, as we start, share with us…what word do YOU choose to begin 2012?

Oh....YES you can

Say you can, you will.....say you can't...you won't.
Is it that simple? Hmmmm, maybe not quite. But this has worked for me, time and time again.

Throughout my creative journey I have always believed I 'could', even before I began, and it has served me well over the years.

If you simply believe that you CAN, you really CAN do amazing things in an extraordinary way. 

In my twenties I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I got married and had two kids by the time I was 23. The one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted kids, so it was an easy decision to make. In time, after the baby stage was over, I came back to the question, 'what am I going to do with my life?'

A few years later I decided I wanted to paint. I simply started painting...dove right in. I never did take a painting class; I just kind of faked it, til I made it. I had no idea where that painting would take me! The more I did, the more in love with the process I became. I started calling myself an artist early on. I think that belief, that clear intention, laid the groundwork for my future and allowed me to build a career with my art. Honestly, if you were a stranger looking in you would have thought, is she crazy... she's really not that good! But yet with great intentions, I made it happen. I managed to create a career around my art, a career that has helped support our family, a career doing something I love.

When I discovered photography I never once thought I couldn't do it. I just did it...forging ahead...learning as I went. When i finally decided to learn photoshop I dove in with both feet....simply believing I could.

Just the other day someone asked me: 'but how do you know how to do all this stuff?' And I simply answered 'Easy, I never doubt that I can, and I learn as I go.'
All the knowledge and inspiration we could ever need is at our fingertips; right in front of our eyes in just seconds. We don't even have to leave home. There really are no excuses.

I've watched my children struggle to find direction in their lives. Their biggest obstacle is a 'can't do' attitude, but I know one day they will discover that they really can. And for that, I can not wait!

Whatever you want in life, you can do it…. It may take hard work…there may be mountains to climb, obstacles to move....but it's completely doable. First you must believe you can.

Are you struggling with your photography? Do you think you can't take pretty pictures, or you can't get out of automatic mode, or you can't learn how to use the big, bad photoshop? 
You are right! As long as you feel that way….it will never happen. You gotta switch your thinking….. 

Now's the time, my friends…. It's almost 2012….. are you IN? Are you READY? Can you do it? Whatever it may be.....You can… I can… We can!!

Today I am giving away a spot in my new eCourse, Beyond Layers, a year of art full inspiration. 52 weeks of encouragement, motivation and inspiration……centered around, but so much more than photoshop……

I'm so excited to share this with the world. I'd love for you to be a part of it.

To enter please share with us your 'I can' statement for 2012.
In 2012.... I can…..
What is it you've been wanting to do? State it here…. and believe you can with all your heart. 
I will be right here, cheering you on!

*****

For more information about the Beyond Layers eCourse, click HERE. The give away winner will be announced at the bottom of this post on Saturday, December 31st at 12:00pm.

Update on Saturday, December 31, 2011 by Kim Klassen

The give away is closed.... But please continue sharing your 2012 'I cans" with us!

Thank you all so much for sharing so openly..... I'm excited for each and every one of us.....

The Beyond Layers eCourse winner is...... Tracy K. Tracy wrote 'I can believe in myself!' 

love that!! :)

Tracy, please message me so I can get you all set up!

Happiest 2012....xo, Kim

make a wish

While watching The Beckoning of Lovely on Friday, there was a moment when the viewer is asked to make a wish and take a photo of oneself while making this wish. What a beautiful thing, prompting the universe to make collective wishes together, and providing a space for those lovely wishes to live on and be seen. I find it so beautiful to see all those diverse faces in a moment of wishing. I have taken many photos of wishing. Birthday wishes, dandy wishes, but never have I thought to take a shot of myself actually wishing. Fun thing is, wishes can be done totally alone if you like. No one there to make you feel uncomfortable, or make you feel like you are wishing too long, or too much, or too hard, nope, no such thing. This is YOUR wish, you get to decide all of those things, just you. No wish is too silly or strange, you can wish for really big stuff or something small. The most delicious part of wishing is no one needs to know, not ever. Your wish is sacred. Your wish is yours to keep. No one can take your wish away. Another awesome thing about wishing is you can do it ANYWHERE. In your car, in your shower, in your bed, in the morning, at night, on a star, on a candle, on an eyelash, on a necklace clasp turned round, on a dandelion, or in your heart of hearts. You can write it down, crumple it up, light it on fire, save it in a jar, or send it on a breeze. Wish alone, or with someone you love. The universe is listening. Go ahead, close your eyes, WISH.. One last perfect thing about wishes? They are unlimited... wish away. go on! No one is keeping score.

Join me in making a wish(es) today.

Take a photo of your wish if you feel moved to do so and share it with us here, or hold it in your heart, just leave a little note here with your name saying you did. I forgot how simple and lovely making a wish feels. Pausing and taking that moment all to myself, it just feels hopeful.

Go on, your wishes are safe here. They are welcome here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a special thank you to fellow contributor and artist, Kim Klassen for the use of her lovely one word texture, above.)

Connection in Community

There are these ties that bind us to our outside world. Sometimes they're tangible. Like a phone call from a friend or an unexpected visit from a family member. All straight-forward events, rather predictable. But there are other bonds, less obvious ones, connecting us in an invisible web of community stretching far from our homes. Take this one for example. You are more than likely reading this blog because of your love of photography, but if you're like me, you return again and again for the special glimpses we get into one another's lives through the daily posts and the various theme groups…and of course the thrill and chance of having your photo featured.

But I've found that there's something more, something bigger, something exciting that takes place when we go from just visiting a group anonymously to engaging with it fully. When we take one little step in its direction, magic begins to happen. You see, I've found that by reaching out, even when it seemed uncomfortable or strange or weird, that my world expanded growing in unimaginable directions. It certainly didn't happen overnight, but slowly I've found myself with a new circle of friends, female photography friends, which as we all know aren't necessarily living down the street. And as my circle increased, something unexpected happened, I found my confidence in my photography grew stronger, my focus deepened, and I found a calm within myself that hadn't existed before. The energy we shared collectively seemed to augment one another's skills. And sometimes, someone who'd seemed unapproachable to me, because they were further along in a journey I wished to emulate, would be willing to respond if I took the time to reach out to them.

Over the past year, I've been able to shift my community out of cyberspace and into face-to-face encounters with these incredible women. From Frankfurt, Germany to Monterey, CA from to New York City to my hometown of Philadelphia, I've been fortunate enough to attend several meetups that a year ago I could never have imagined. I've gone from meeting these women in person to shoving up against one another while barefoot on the beach to get just the right shot…from where we stood! But that's just what has happened. I felt honored and delighted at my reception, and a little amazed at how it all unfolded. And all because I reached out, taking one, little tippy toe step at a time.

How about you? Have you felt the magic of community? What relationships and bonds have you formed lately? Today, share with us your images of connection.

Image (shot with a Lensbaby) and post courtesy of the awesome Holly Clark, who many of us know and love as Soupatraveler.