I used to think of myself as a shy person. I didn’t want to make new friends after I left school because I was happy with the ones I had. That was a crappy mindset. After studying for 3 years at university (graduating with a degree I didn’t enjoy doing) I learned the error of my ways and made friends. I started off lonely in classes and realised that is a dumb way to go through life. All I had to do was talk to people, find common interests, and I made some friends for life. I’ve used the same simple technique again and made friends with my whole college class, and I couldn’t do without them. We’re all in the same boat studying photography, and the teamwork we have helping each other out is just the best.
Deciding on a career in photography got me worried though about how to be with my potential clients. Do they want formal? Informal? I even questioned whether or not to be myself. How crazy is that? But I have met with clients about photographing two weddings this summer and (from what I felt from the meetings) I think they liked me. They want me to photograph their weddings, and that is a big deal. I was myself (with the crazy turned off of course!) and they liked me anyway. I didn’t need to be formal. They just wanted someone to be honest with them. Honesty wins.
Working with my friends for college projects has been so much fun and has given me a lot of practice on how to work with people to allow them to be themselves. That’s what I want out of all my pictures: to see people being themselves.
Take Stacey and Nikki for example. Two of my closest friends so of course I was comfortable with them and vice versa, but it can still be difficult for someone to photograph you no matter how close you are. Images like the one of Stacey are some of my favourites, a natural laugh. And Nikki is simply stunning, all natural.
I think I am finding my way of being. There will be many more clients to come (hopefully) and I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes, but I will learn from them.
Kyla x
Kyla Thomson Photography 