What photographs really are

"I don't have any photos of me from when I was a kid," said the old man fishing in the rock pool next to me. We both had our pants rolled up to the knees and were peering about for fish. "We didn't have any of those," he said, pointing to the bright orange point and shoot camera I had hanging from my arm. "I hate to think of all the things I've forgotten about because there's nothing to remind me of them."

The man wandered off with his grandchild, holding the chubby hand steady as they found a clear path through the seaweed.

I turned back to where my children were playing, and took another photograph. So they remember.



* Meaghan

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Dealing with self doubt

Sometimes when it's late at night, usually when the house is quite and I'm sitting at my computer working by the light of the screen that the self doubt demons creep in. They whisper to me 'you're a horrid photographer', 'you don't know what you're doing'. They love to taunt 'would you look at that photograph? You call that horizon straight?!'. They make me go and look at other photographer's websites, further driving home their point about me photography skills, and lack there of.

It's so hard not to listen, and all of a sudden I find myself in the swampy waters of self doubt. If I don't do something about it, I would surely drown.

I don't prescribe to all that crap about using self-doubt to drive you forwards and make you better. Erm, yeah, whatever. They've obviously never met my self-doubt. Mine is paralising, and has me convinced that I don't even know how to turn a camera on. I've read all about self-doubt being only natural, that everyone goes through it, that I'm not alone. Again, so not helpful. Knowing that everyone doubts themselves just makes me believe in the old primary school adage of 'majority rules'.

To deal with it I give myself a reality check. I tell myself the following two things -

1. When you started photography, your photos were awful.
2. You're better than you were then.



By not comparing myself to others, but comparing what I used to be like to what am now works. It eliminates all others from the equation, and makes my own work the bench mark. It makes me feel so much better to know that I've improved. If I really need pulling out of the self-doubt swamp I'll even go back to my first blog posts to look at the photos (and there are some stinkers!).

Telling myself these two simple things reminds me that I'm moving foward. No, I may not yet be the best photographer in the world, and that I'm actually not even close to that, but I'm better than I used to be. So that gives me hope that I will continue to grow, learn, develop and take better photographs. It reminds me that so far the only way has been up, so why should that change now?

Try it, next time the self-doubt devil comes to haunt you. And tell it hi from me.

* Meaghan

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Wedding - Kellie and Mark [Elwood, VIC]

"I don't need sleep. I'm too excited," said Kellie as I met her for her early morning wedding in Elwood last Saturday. Kellie could count the hours of sleep she had on one hand, but was looking and feeling radiant.















Brighton Beach was deserted spare the few people out early for a jog. Having the beach practically to ourselves when Mark saw Kellie for the very first time on their wedding day, made the moment even more special. I love how much these two love each other.



















The days prior to Kellie and Mark's wedding were filled with ghastly weather. But it turned on a dime, and gave us a glorious, simply glorious day to celebrate.



































Huzzah! My heartfelt congratulations to two of the most genuine and gorgeous people I've had the joy of meeting.




* Meaghan

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ROCK WHAT YOU'VE GOT photography business workshop

I needn't have worried. I stressed, and lay awake at night, for nothing.

"Empowering" - Andreana



My first ever ROCK WHAT YOU'VE GOT photography workshop was on Sunday, and the day went off without a hitch. The television didn't fall off the table, my presentation worked, there was enough food for everyone, and I remember to speak slowly to people could understand me (well, most of the time).

"Helpful, insightful, inspiring" - Glenn Hair




I couldn't have asked for a more perfect group of people to share my first workshop with. They were beyond awesome, and really helped me to relax and enjoy the day with them. It felt like a conversation, which is exactly what I wanted it to be.

"I am much more confident and inspired to start now" - Sherriden Harding



This is my 'when all else fails shut your eyes and hide' look.



'Meaghan, you are a bundle of energy and information. Thank you' - Sara Taylor


Look! People smiling! I was excited when I saw this shot because it's evidence that for at least a millisecond I was somewhat entertaining.



The workshop was totally a group effort, and I couldn't have done it with out:
*Lyndel at The Loft where the workshop was held. All that glorious light, and the opportunity to do some creative dance if we so desired.
*Carol at Noble Foods. We were totally spoilt.
*MJ from Something Special. Her cupcakes really do rock the house.
*The team at Press Here for all their help putting my books together, and not rolling their eyes when I asked silly questions.
*Sarah Bowen for helping me set up and keep the day running smoothly. And putting the kettle on.
*Lauren Bent for these great photos from the day.
*Amba for looking after the children all day so I could spend the day talking.
*Miles and Ryan for putting in a brief, but extremely cute, appearance.



I'm really looking forward to seeing where all these wonderful people take their photography careers. They are all bursting with talent and enthusiasm, and I have absolutely no doubt that they will go on to do some pretty amazing things.

I'm 100% humbled by the response, and exhilarated from the day.

And because it seems the workshop wasn't so bad after all, I'll be announcing more this week. Sound like a plan?
Sign up to the newsletter at the bottom of my blog and facebook for the dates to appear later in the week. I'll also pop them here too.

* Meaghan

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Tickle me mummy

I've learnt a new skill. I can simultaneously tickle Ryan while photographing him. Yep, mulit-talented!



* Meaghan

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Before and after

It's been rainy. So rainy. No chance to get outside and take any photos, so instead I thought I'd show the before and after of one of my photos from Allison and Hayden's recent photo shoot.

I knew as soon as the shutter closed down over this photo that I loved it. Allison and Hayden were walking away from me, and I called Allison's name. She looked up and gave me this super sweet half smile. The smile combined with the dreamy light, and I knew I had it. ( I especially love the way the sun is landing gently on her hair)

BEFORE

1/640 f2.8 iso200 80-200mm



Not much to do in photoshop as all the strong elements of the photos are already there. Photoshop for me is not about changing a photo so much that it becomes unrecognisable. Nor is it about trying to save an average photo. It's about enhancing what is already there in the photo. So I used the levels to clean the haze up a bit, added some contrast, bumped the colours a bit. And I think I even warmed it up just a smidge. A smidge of a smidge.

AFTER



And that's it!

* Meaghan

ROCK WHAT YOU'VE GOT photography workshop
Sept 26th 2010
Limited places!

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Introducing ... photography business workshop!

When I started my business, I was fumbling around in the dark. I knew I wanted to take my photography to the next level, but had no idea how. Just ask Amba how many frustrated nights I spent in front of the computer trying to work it all out. I spent months in a bleary haze of website design, pricing, sourcing products, etc. It.was.terrible.

One thing I realised during all this is that there aren't too many resources where all the information is all in one place. You've got to search and search through forums and websites to find it all. If you find anything at all.

So the seed for this workshop was planted way back then, and it's come to fruition now.



I'm happy, and proud, and excited to be kicking of this photography business workshop. You can see all the details on the workshop website.

The workshop is about helping people wanting to start a photography business through the maze. I want to equip people with the knowledge and tools they will need. And to spare them the long nights in front of the computer getting nowhere!

The workshops are also about helping newcomers to the photography industry enter it with their eyes wide open. I always believe it's better to nurture, whether that be nurturing children, plants, or new photographers. I want to help newbies find themselves, and find their own little corner of the photography world.


[Photo details] 200 f/1.8 iso 200 50mm

The workshop is on September 26th 2010 down here in Geelong (in the most beautiful loft space). The WEBSITE has all the details, including a contact form to get in touch if you'd like to come along.

* Meaghan

WORKSHOP SPONSORED BY:





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