Hampton Roads Photographer | 5 Things I Wish I Did More Often

I think we all have things about ourselves we'd like to work on. Things we wish we were better at. Things we wish we did more often. Things we wish we made time for. You know what I mean.
I'm no different. I have a list a mile long of things I wish I did more often, but I also have things that I'm glad I DO often and I'm glad I can honestly say that I'm working on it.

1. My personal hashtag on Instagram is #thebravestoryteller and I'll be the first to say that I don't think I'm very brave. But it's something I work on every. single. day. and I'm proud of that. I feel like I'm a whole lot braver behind my camera- I think a lot of photographers feel this way. It's something I know. It's my comfort zone. But what I wish I did more often is walk up to stangers and ask to take their picture. I have soul crushing anxiety about doing this and I don't do it often, but I'm working on it. And I did do it and I am proud of that. I took a picture of this gentleman that sits on his steps every night with his martini and a canister of treats for nightly puppy visitors, I watched him for a few minutes and got the courage to ask to take his picture and he happily obliged. He could have said no, but he didn't- and the result was awesome. I wish I had also gotten a portrait of just his face, but I wasn't quite so brave (I didn't have a zoom lens on my body at the time, only my 35mm).
2. I wish I did yoga more often. Again, working on this daily. Sometimes I get a good 45 minute session in and other days I get a namaste and a deep breath and call it good... and I'll be honest, some days I just slap out forget. It happens. I'm human and I'm working on it.
3. I wish I did more photo walks. I love taking walks with my kids and dog, but it can seem to be a daunting task to compose a picture when I'm juggling everything, the kids are getting too far ahead or are not paying attention, the dog sees a squirrel or another dog, and the baby is crying because I stopped walking. I'm a walking circus, I tell ya! But it's something I will be working towards in the future.
4. I wish I taught classes more often. I'd love to eventually host quarterly classes geared towards moms and helping them to learn to take better pictures of their kids. Helping them to document those everyday moments and to learn more about their cameras and how to use them (whether that be a phone camera, point and shoot, or DSLR- photography principals are the same no matter what you are shooting on). As of now, these classes are purely on an on demand basis, but I'd love to make them a regular thing!
   
5.  Sleep.