Behind the scenes of how I started: Impostor Syndrome anyone?

“Embarrassment is the cost of entry.
If you aren't willing to look like a foolish beginner,
you'll never become a graceful master.”

- Ed Latimore

Ooosh. This was me when I first started photographing people.

In fact, I DIDN'T photograph people 🙈...

I was so full of impostor syndrome and afraid of looking foolish in front of people, that I held myself back.

The learning felt so challenging I didn't think it would ever click - and being brave to do the hard learning in front of others felt way too uncomfortable.

(You get where I'm going with this, right?)

Figuring out how to achieve what I wanted to with all the new technical things felt impossible to me. My husband understood the technical, so I art directed while he sorted the tech stuff.

Being dragged along every time I had a photoshoot was so unfair on him - he didn't enjoy it. At. All 😬

So I put time and effort into learning slowly, bit by bit.

And in the beginning I sucked. (See below behind the scenes of Baby Tabitha art-directing one of my first photoshoots! I was so hecking nervous I couldn’t even look people in the eye… And I was too nervous to take the photos myself so I had my poor husband do it!)

Stepping outside of the ol' Comfort Zone can be so hecking HARD.

But I wanted it. I wanted it enough that I kept on learning.

After a lot of learning and a lot of practicing, I eventually felt confident enough to play, to relax, to troubleshoot and work things out in front of my clients.

And now I don't suck. Actually; I'm really blimmin GOOD.

I'm not sure about 'graceful' - but I just don't care. In fact, these days I fully embrace my playful inner fool. (See evidence below!)

I think I gained bonus empathy on my journey, and I use that to support my clients during their photo experience with me.

How about you? Is the fear of embarrassment holding you back from your full potential?