Tag: self-reflection

Categories
Poetry

To next year’s summer

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Creative photography by Paige Muller

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]we wait all year for summer
and forget how it feels
to be hit in the face with humidity
and almost die from boredom
without anyone telling us how
to occupy our time
so we fill it with
lovers and adventures
while the days keep
passing and all we’re
left with is a bunch of
random memories
and a melancholia for
next year’s summer.

– s/s[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8061″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8047″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

View more from this shoot.

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Categories
Stories

Portrait of a Stranger pt. II

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Local painter in Paris, France

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8026″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8028″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]Montmartre is the local art district in Paris. It’s a place where artists are lining the streets and it’s been this way since the early 1900s. It’s here you will find the local painters, sketch artists, musicians and even some characteristics—you know, for the tourists. One thing is for certain, there is no lack of talent among this community. Each person has their own technique, perspective and color palette. While looking, I found it hard to even choose a painting if I were able to take one home.

This particular man was walking around asking people if he could draw them. When he sensed someone’s hesitation, he would assure them that if they didn’t like it then they need not to pay. I’m not sure what it was about him, but I wondered about his journey as an artist. He looked the part and had this aura of melancholy mixed with mystery. I wonder if this is what he always wanted to do or if it was the means to afford his true passion. I didn’t get the chance to ask him his name or even see any of his work.

After some time, I saw him again later in the afternoon, and he just sat off to the side, watching the tourists pass by while holding his blank canvas smoking a cigarette.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Insights

a note about artistic intentions-

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Sculpture room located in the heart of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]My immature inner artist thought that experiences gave root to astounding works of art, but as I have gone further down this road, I continually see that it’s the moments we may label as mundane that are the most impactful:

moments of silence to ourselves.

transparency with our loved ones.

slow steps of growth followed by louder criticisms of doubt.

 

It’s things like these that breed impactful art, because art is not to showcase the extravagent, unattainable or unimaginable;

art is to show others that finding meaning in life is less about opportunity and more about paying attention.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8006″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8011″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”8009″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7999″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

(So, I would almost suggest that:)

if what you create doesn’t encourage your viewer to appreciate their own surroundings, then what are you really doing?

There is a lot of noise that makes us want to be different:

our bodies thinner,

pockets fuller,

love life richer.

It’s this wishful thinking that capsizes our appreciation for here and now and with whom. So, as bold as it may be, I would ask that if in some way the art you chose to practice only heightens yourself, stop and rethink:

who are you creating for?

and what are you saying?

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Categories
Insights

What’s the Value in a Smile?

intimate couple photography love holding hands field prairie sunset romantic
"Feels like home."

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7869″ alignment=”right” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

“Fake happiness is the worst kind of sadness.”
― Dominic Riccitello

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]Early on in my journey as a photographer, I decided that I would never ask people to smile in my photographs. It came down to seeking authenticity. A life without joy is no life at all but in pursuit of this happiness, we have created a culture that looks the part but rarely lives it out.

Put it in this perspective:

If we did a survey and asked people how they were actually feeling in a particular photograph, how many would actually list “happiness.”

It begs the question: what’s the value in a smile?

When it comes to life, I consider myself to be a pretty happy person. I naturally smile a lot because I am genuinely content with the day is going. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I have used a smile once or twice to cover up what is really going on.  Over the past year, I’ve been learning what it means to live authentically; meaning that I make space for my own feelings. The good, the bad and the ugly. I haven’t always given myself permission to feel anger, express worry or show sadness. Photography opened that door for me to express these less-than-desired emotions.

This decision also came as I learned more about my husband’s culture. For those of you who don’t know me, I’ve been married for 5 years. My husband, Francois, is French. When we first started dating, I noticed that Francois rarely smiled in pictures with a big cheesy grin. I would always ask him—”why can’t you show those pearly whites, aren’t you happy?” He would respond that it wasn’t because he wasn’t happy, he just didn’t feel the need to overexaggerate his happiness. Huh. It really opened my eyes to a worldview wherein one instant, we can throw a smile on to convince people we are doing just fine. Such as:

Families arguing over dinner until someone pulls out their phone and says, “get in the picture.” The annoyance is set aside for a split second as everyone huddles together for a good ‘ol family picture.

–

A young woman battling depression but can muster up the strength to smile for a selfie that she posts in search of affirmation.

–

I often wonder how we can seek pure joy when we are too busy mimicking it. Where is the line drawn between social custom and self-denial? If we are so quick to convince everyone else that we are happy, how is anyone supposed to know how we are doing, really? In my mind, it’s along the same lines of the classic, “Hey how are you doing?” People rarely respond with anything but “good” and yet in truth, there is stress, anxiety, and discontent brewing beneath the surface.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7866″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7874″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7867″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]As a storyteller, I decided that in a time where anxiety is on the rise by 40% in just the last couple of years, picture perfect people with perfect smiles just isn’t going to speak to anyone. At least not in the way that I intend. I want my work to tell people that it’s okay to not be okay, just as long as you don’t stay here. Give weight to how you are feeling and take the steps to grow.

We are complex beings with an array of emotions. This is something I like to explore.

What is sadness without tears shed?

Anger without tightened fists?

Happiness without a smile?

It’s emotions like boredom, peace, and wonder that I gravitate towards in my work. I did not give myself this rule to avoid smiles or expressions of happiness; I only desire for it to be genuine. I want to capture who a person is at that moment. If it’s exuberant joy, then that’s perfect; if it’s indifference, even better.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

So, if a smile is what I am after, how can I evoke it out of my subject?

The answer is simple: get to know the person. What makes them happy? What makes them laugh? All of my favorite cheesy photos were taken in a moment where I either embarrassed myself and made them laugh or the fewer times when someone actually found my joke funny. But more times than not when I look back at these portraits, I feel as if they radiate happiness, not imitate it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7873″ alignment=”right” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7864″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7861″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

View the full gallery from this shoot here.

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Categories
Insights

A Brief Note About Humanity on Autopilot

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

A photo series about uncovering the habits that hold us back.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]We are all creature of habits; acting on impulses that slip past our conscious decision-making. These habits go much deeper than whether or not we thrive off a routine; it’s about what we continually seek in life.

It’s when we find our lives in a cycle, what some call habitual behavior. It’s the way we go about finding comfort, feeling cared for, and facing stress. More often than not, they are quick fixes with even quicker letdowns. We resort back to these habits, day after day, knowing that we are capable of more, but lacking the will-power to move forward.

It’s when we live life on autopilot. We find ourselves simply going through the motions and staying within the confines of comfort, but soon enough, we’ll look back on our experiences with a dull ache. It’s often when the concept of “should of” makes its way into our thoughts. And the pressure of not living as we should makes us feel even worse; so to quiet the noise, we go back to that sweet habit with its arms open wide.

And here’s the thing about habits—there’s not one type and one type is not a habit for all. In this series, I chose a cigarette because it’s universally understood to be addictive. Even a life-long smoker will admit that. But what about the habits that are disguised as admirable things. Kind of like the lover that you know, deep down, isn’t good for your soul but is just a quick fix to feel connected–couldn’t they too be a habit that needs to be let go of?

Or maybe, it’s a mantra that overran its course. “Only you can look out for you.” It’s a self-empowering thought after a season of co-dependence, but what about after you’ve regained a sense of fulfillment but are now too fearful to let others in. Wouldn’t that too be a habit that should retire?

Stripped down to its basics, I believe a habit to be anything that involves rationalizing its presence in my life. When I first reflected on this, I became less concerned with removing the obvious habits and more intentional about pulling up the root of the action. Habits are often masked as fear, envy, shame, and doubt. More often than not, habits are connected to situations that we never truly worked through. It was an “aha” moment, to say the least, an ugly realization, but nevertheless, most impactful.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7533″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

So, I leave you with this:

What is it who’s arms you continually lay in?

Is it a person or a perspective?

A coping mechanism or self-medication?

Whatever it is—I welcome you to, once and for all, walk away from that habit with me and find clarity.

 

Cheers,[/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”7566″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”50%” margin_top=”-15″ margin_left=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Business

The Year I Actually Wrote Down Goals

The Year I Actually Wrote Down Goals - Sights And Souls

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In the past when the new year came around, my resolutions mostly consisted of “drinking more water” and “getting in shape”–whatever that means. And would you know it that by the next year, I recycled my resolutions into that new year, again. I chose resolutions based off of what I felt obligated to change instead of what I really needed to do for myself. Which brings me to my whole point: self-reflection and goal making is a little intimidating for me.
My shift in perspective happened like most revelations; I was having a conversation with a dear friend of mine who is the goal-setting queen, and this woman dreams big. BIG. I’m inspired by her big picture thinking and it made me realize this underlying fear: if I write a goal down then I am admitting to a dream….that might not happen. 2018 was the year I had to hit backspace on that last clause. And so, I wrote down some 2018 goals for myself, such as:
  1. Explore your style; strengthen your voice
  2. Partner with more creatives (HMUA, videographers, models, boutique owners, etc.)
  3. Do something outside your comfort zone in photography
  4. Get published by a magazine
  5. Respect your worth and stop underquoting yourself

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Walking Into The New Year

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I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the extensive pressure I felt in April when my list seemed unaccomplished and I continued to fall into bad habits like jealousy and taking on underpaying gigs. But as I worked through my expectations and short-fallings, I found my path. Most importantly, I learned to narrow my focus. I quit looking towards others and what they were accomplishing, and I reverted back to that list and just kept refining myself and my brand.
And so I learned that although there is a time for everything, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prepare ourselves for these achievements. The goals we leave unchecked by the end of the year are not a reflection of our worth or lack of work ethic–it just means it hasn’t come to fruition, yet.
There is a healthy balance to goal setting.
A year can do a lot in an artist’s life, and most of the time, it’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work just to make that check mark signify “done.” So, for those of you who worked tirelessly to make 2018 productive–I celebrate with you and I hope you are thankful for every ounce of perseverance that it took for you to get there and every person who helped you along the way.
And for those of you who feel like your expectations for 2018 fell short–just know that things are still in the works and this whole New Year phenomena does not have to dictate the benchmarks for your growth.
So, let us all welcome 2019 with a hopeful heart and encouraged mindset to keep striving towards our personal and professional growth while never dismissing the perfect and often-confusing timing of the Universe.
Cheers,
Paige

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Categories
Business Insights

Finding Balance As An Artist

minimal photography culture on commercial street springfield missouri
taken at the Culture Boutique Hotel on Commercial Street in Springfield, Missouri

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So, here’s one of the hardest things to accept as an artist: my most popular work is not my most profitable work, and my most treasured work is not my most popular work.

It’s hard to balance being an artist and making a living as an artist. Imposter syndrome aside, even with confidence, sometimes the ideal clients just aren’t to be found. So, where’s all this pressure coming from? It’s the need to be valued and thrive in our work. To do this, we feel we must obtain three things—

1. Fulfillment: expressing ourselves wholeheartedly in our craft

2. Worth: being valued in our niche community

3. Security: making a profitable living through our craft to further our work.

Like many of you, I first dipped my toe in photography because I was looking for a safe place to express myself. I found a lot of fulfillment there and so began the dreams of making this hobby into a career. Since then, I’ve been on a rollercoaster journey of discovering my style, overcoming hardships, and learning the business of it all.

So, what now? How did I find balance?

To be real. I don’t have a recipe for success, but I do have some easy to follow tips if you’re willing to take the time and not scoff at a simple solution.

First. Figure out where the balance is off.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]*Draw a circle and divide it into three sections labeled “fulfillment”, “worth”, and “security”. Reflect and make a dot in each section according to how you feel in that category. Connect the dots. You might notice that your shape looks like a little lopsided—that’s okay. That’s where your growth is.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you’ve been booking clients like crazy, make it a priority to do a personal project. What’s been on your mind lately? What inspires you in this season of life? Grab a pen and start brainstorming![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Maybe you are satisfied with your work in general, but you feel unappreciated. Take time to write out 5 things you excel at and 3 things you want to work on. Then, hop online and find new artists within your niche and give them a nice compliment. Admiration is contagious—especially when it’s expressed with an intentional heart.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Maybe you are satisfied with your work in general, but you feel unappreciated. Take time to write out 5 things you excel at and 3 things you want to work on. Then, hop online and find new artists within your niche and give them a nice compliment. Admiration is contagious—especially when it’s expressed with an intentional heart.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Or maybe, you’re just not where you want to be from a business standpoint. Do not get overwhelmed. It’s a day-by-day process of finding your entrepreneurial flow. Seek outside resources like youtube or self-made entrepreneurs like Jenna Kutcher (Goal Digger). Listen to a podcast while you tackle that email list or update your website.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”7137″ alignment=”right” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][image_with_animation image_url=”7136″ alignment=”right” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]

 

I say this a lot, but life ebb-and-flows and the best thing we can do for ourselves as human beings and artists is constantly check-in with ourselves~

Cheers.

***I originally came across this method from Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way which uses it as a way to find balance in life in general.

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Categories
Editorial Insights

Self vs. Ego

conceptual photoshoot springfield missouri fashion editorial

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We all have stories to tell.

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Some of us share by stringing words together, some craft the story with a stroke of a brush. While I love telling a good story, sometimes searching for the words feels limiting. It’s one of the many reasons why I’m drawn to visual forms of storytelling and why I resonate with Fred R. Barnard’s infamous quote, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” I’ve found that the words are so plentiful because they aren’t just the words in my vocabulary but in the interpretations from others.

Since starting this form of storytelling, editorial photography has become my favorite style. It’s a challenge to visually craft a story that others will find meaning in as well—but all challenges reap the best results.

This particular image is part of a series that I call “Selves.” Loosely based off Sigmund Freud’s model of the psyche, I wanted this image to show the interactions that we have with ourselves.

Our true self vs. our ego.

With the patience of a child, the ego is that little voice in our heads that recognizes needs and strives ruthlessly to satisfy them.

Where there is a need to be loved, there is also a fear of abandonment; the ego attempts to protect us from humiliation and pain. Her vision is to portray an individual who is grounded in her sense of self.

She’s the first to notice motives in others, full of reasoning and relentless to a cause.

Sometimes our ego saves us from repeating mistakes and sometimes it keeps us from being vulnerable with others. It is both necessary and destructive.

Maybe in a world without deceit, shame and manipulation, there would be no need for an ego, but as author Debbie Ford points out–we must keep fighting to see the humanity in everybody.

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To live in the light of a new day and an unimaginable and unpredictable future, you must become fully present to a deeper truth – not a truth from your head, but a truth from your heart; not a truth from your ego, but a truth from the highest source.

-Debbie Ford

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Categories
Fashion

The Jungalow

fashion photography street style kansas city missouri
Ethereal inspired street-style with Kansas City model, Rebecca Yoo.

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I have hand-picked each and every thing around me to create a space that is intentional, heartening and wholesome.

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This photo series in collaboration with Rebecca (@yebeccayoo) is inspired by the rich hue of terra cotta and earthy atmospheres.

I wanted these images to reflect the importance of being intentional with our surroundings. The things and memories we hold onto makeup our life. Going back through these images almost a year after during the recent focus on “tidying up”, it’s comforting to know that this idea did not lack validity. In case you’re new to this term or aren’t familiar to Marie Kondu, here’s a little recap:

Kondu is a Japanese organizing consultant and author who is pretty much an expert in creating intentional homes. She has a method that involves gathering together all of one’s belongings, one category at a time, and then keeping only those things that “spark joy” and choosing a place for everything from then on.

It’s something that takes time. In western culture, it almost seems like we start collecting things from the moment we are born. So by the time we are adults, our homes are filled with childhood memorabilia, old school papers, and a plethora of other things. Now, I’m not saying that all these things are bad, it just presents the question, what’s really worth keeping? In Japanese, the term “spark joy” translates to tokimeku (ときめく ) meaning “flutter, throb, or palpitate”.

I can name very few things in my home that make my heart flutter: family photographs, surviving houseplants, and a couple of knick-knacks associated with good memories are a few to name. This would mean that there are a lot of things that I continue to hold on to that don’t serve a purpose in my life. They aren’t important documents or treasured items… it’s just stuff, and some of that stuff makes me feel weighed down. You know, the things that we keep out of obligation or that are associated with a sad memory.

When I started applying this concept to my life, I found that the hardest things to give up were the ones I felt indifferent about. “I don’t need it now, but maybe I’ll want it in the future.” At first, it seemed like a harmless feeling, but once the indifferent pile grew bigger and bigger, I realized that I have a lot of expectations for myself in the future. I’m going to reread that college book that I was interested in Junior or finally finish that craft. Just thinking about all the “should’s” or “will do’s” makes me feel suffocated just thinking about. So, let’s make room to breathe. And with that I leave you with these considerations:

What am I choosing to have influence over my life?

And is it enabling room to grow or leaving me suffocated?

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The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.

– Marie Kondu

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][nectar_cta btn_style=”see-through” heading_tag=”h6″ link_type=”regular” alignment=”center” text=”view the full photoshoot here.” url=”sightsandsouls.co/fashion/the-concrete-jungalow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”extra-color-1″ animate=”yes”][vc_column_text]It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t give a shoutout to AirBNB.com for bringing this space to my attention. I booked this loft in downtown Kansas City during my stay for the Kansas City Fashion Show. AirBNB is my number one secret tool for finding indoor locations. Many of my most favorite photoshoots have taken place in spaces that I’ve found on the platform. Wondering how I went about this? Read more about finding indoor locations here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]