I think being a photographer is a balance of confidence and self-criticism. During this internship, I’ve been learning to find that balance. To be my own worst AND best critic. To shoot, edit, and reflect. To say, “That was good. Now how can it be better?”
I think, paradoxically, before I started working with Raven, I was both overconfident and underprepared. I swung from one extreme to another, feeling like I was on top of the world one minute, then freaking out the next, feeling totally underqualified for whatever job I was about to take on.
One thing Raven has talked about a lot during this internship is understanding and defining who you are, what you want, and how to do it. Sure, she taught us a ton of technical stuff about lighting, editing, and posing, which is great. That stuff is really important. But so much of what I’ve learned is about careful introspection. When you are able to evaluate your own work honestly, you know what you can do and what you stand for. You find that balance, which translates into confidence. Which, in turn, translates into better images and a better experience for your client. It’s kind of like a giant snowball effect of awesomeness.
I’ve had so many people comment on how much my work has grown in the past six months, and I would definitely agree. I’ve loved the experience of workshops and second shooting weddings (even two weddings in one weekend. If you really want to push yourself, try it sometime). But most of all, I’m really appreciative of the honest feedback that I’ve gotten from Raven and my fellow interns; it’s really helped me push to be better, and to understand what I’m all about as a photographer.
All of that to say - thanks, Raven. Thanks, fellow interns. It’s been awesome.
.png)
.png)
.png)
