How Photography Class Taught Me That Practice Creates Confidence

Excuses. Low confidence. Second guessing.  Stuck in a funk.  Fear of failing.  Not feeling "good enough" These are all things I've dealt with and I'm willing to bet you have to.  

You know what, though? 

Once I started just freakin' taking action things started to shift.  My mindset started to change, I figured what is the worst that could happen and I just decided to start trying things.  One of the best ways to gain confidence is to take action.  MAybe I still get those fears but I don't let them stop me. 

That's right-- do something-- one thing, you're nervous about doing and just freakin' do it! 

It doesn't need to be nutrition or fitness related.

To help get the juices flowing, I'll give you an example.  

Several years ago I purchased a nice Cannon camera because I LOVE taking photos and think there is just something magical about the treasure of a photo.  When all is said and done, when our loved ones are gone and the "good times" fly by, having those photos are sometimes the only thing we can really hold on to. I would always think to myself that I was meant to be a photographer in another life.  But then I realized, why not this life? Why not now? 

So, fast forward several years and that camera that I used my hard-earned tax refund money on was just collecting dust.  Sure I would use it from time to time, but I just wasn't sure how to use it.  I wasn't confident with all those buttons, I didn't know how to operate it and just kept it on "automatic mode."  I might as well have just stuck with using my iPhone. 

But I really wanted to STOP having low-confidence with my camera.  I wanted to overcome that fear of all those crazy buttons.  I wanted to create beautiful images that so many other photographers capture as well.  So, this spring I did it.  I signed up for a photography class.  

Pulling the trigger was both exciting and nerve racking.  Once I signed up I wanted to start NOW because I was so excited, but it also made me nervous for several reasons.  What if I'm in class with people who are really good? What if I spend all this time going to the class and then I just go back to "life as is" and don't use anything that I learned in this class? 

So, instead of letting my nervousness and fears decrease my excitement for this course, I acknowledged them, decided that I'll figure it out as I go and used them to help me set up a plan.  Now, fast forward a few months to when the class actually starts.  The first week we learn about the three functionalities that are essential to getting off automatic mode.  Our assignment for the week was to then go out, practice our new skills, take photos and then bring a few prints to class the next week to critique.

My first thoughts were "Woah, this is getting really real. We're actually applying our so-called skills." So, that week I set out on a mission and snapped a ton of pictures.  I'll tell you it wasn't easy.   Getting the light just right was a challenge and don't even get me started on my focus struggles.  Come week two of the class and I bring in my images with my head hanging low.  My pictures weren't the best in class, and in fact there were  a few that I actually felt a little embarrassed about. 

These are some of my raw, unedited photos that I took after class number one.  While they're a start and I'm proud of that, I know now what TLC is required to make these images better. 

But you know what? In reviewing those images I learned so much about what I could have done better, what went wrong in capturing that image, and how I can take control of my camera better next time to produce a quality image.   It was like those so-called "bad" photos were just what I needed to become a little more fearless.  I honestly don't think I would have learned as much had they turned out perfect in my first round of practicing. The light bulbs started going off in my head, "now I know what I need to do to fix this, that and the other." Had I hid my images from the teacher, I wouldn't have learned the lessons I now know to fix them.  Had I not taken action, I wouldn't have any proof that I tried. 

These are some of my raw, unedited photos that I took after class number two. A bit better than week two! 

​I signed up for the class without much knowledge of my camera. I did it anyway.  I took some pictures and they turned out crappy.  I took more anyway.  It was through just taking action, just pulling the trigger that I gained confidence.  Through my struggles I learned what I can do better next time... and that made me feel good.  

Even if the the outcome isn't the way we envisioned it right away, it will get there.  After class I set one small goal.  The goal isn't even to practice using my camera each day, it was to leave my camera out.  When it's visible I'll be more likely to use it.  The more I use it, the more confident I become with it.  It's through this process that I get closer to my vision of capturing the treasures of all that surrounds me. I'm still learning as I go, but I'm trying and practicing.  I'm getting more comfortable with my camera through practice.  The more comfortable I'm getting, the higher my camera-confidence is soaring. ​​

These are some of my raw, unedited photos that I took after the class was completed.  Each click of the camera brings more practice, confidence and treasures to last forever.  

Are you looking to set some goals that ignite your soul and want to create confidence through action?  Stay tuned as I will be sharing more about the "Just One Thing" program launch and accountability group coming soon!