A personal look

Some of you have been praying for me for some time.

A prayer for God to point me in a direction for using my camera and growing skills in some way.

The hardest part about praying is the waiting and also the decision making in the meantime.
Cause you know, sometimes God just nudges us along in a direction and then other times it couldn't be clearer through circumstances what his will is.

I am still, obviously in that waiting/decision making time.

I am trying to form each day, clearer and clearer in my mind how I want to make pictures.
How will the images I capture speak to the people viewing them.

Will people eventually be able to glance at a shot of mine and say...Hey, that is a J D Waterhouse image!!

Oh boy, I am getting a little bit ahead of myself.
There are photos going on that you don't know about yet, some that I can't share with you yet, some that I finally can share, and some that are yet to come.
Things are moving quickly which is so awesome for growth as I find myself racing along to keep up and find my specific vision.

Now, if you are not an artsy type then frankly, I may have lost you with that last bit.
Let me try to explain it with pictures!!

I was finally able to get in touch with the bride from the very special wedding I was asked to help take photos of. I will use these to describe to you where I want to be and what I want to do.
I will start with some ouch/funny ones.

I want move out of my self imposed position so I don't miss the shot.

I was so dead set on maintaining a seated position so as to not miss the wedding party coming in. I would have been way better off just trusting myself more and roaming where the action was.

I want to have the skill set to take charge and get people posed for group shots.

Ughhh, the huge plant, the trees coming out of heads, the dappling sunlight. Ughhh!


I want to learn to more accurately control shutter speed to capture movement.

There are so many technical things wrong with this image that makes me want to haul it to the trash BUT, the look on her face as she searches for the first glimpse of her groom makes it a keeper!! I think more time with running horses is in order to work on my motion capture!


I want to see moments of beauty and be able to get all of my settings and focus points just right before the moment disappears.

I could just die!!! The prime focus is on the flowers, not the laughter.
I will say in my defense this is cut from a head to toe shot of 5 people.

Here comes the really personal part.
So hard to be transparent here and share, but here goes.

I sent a message to several of my friends with this prayer request the day of the wedding.
Please pray specifically that I am humble and kind. That I know where to push and where to pull back. That I can be CONFIDENT, without losing integrity. That I can keep my cool in a situation where I am totally out of my element and out of my comfort zone.
I need to be focused and be able to make beautiful decisions quickly. I want to be ultra aware of what comes into my lens and the choices I make when I click the button each time.
This is a chance for service and I don't want to mess it up!!
Thank you for praying with me as I tackle this and try to have fun!!

I only share that with you because I think you need to know that specific prayers were said, and God held my hand and my heart through the whole wedding day and allowed me to capture some truly amazing things.

God be praised, with His help I did okay!
So with that said...back to my list of where I want to be and how I want to grow!

I want to be bold.

I had just seconds to rush this couple over to click off a few shots before they were whisked away again. I literally held my breath and prayed that at least one of the hastily done images came out. This is probably my favorite "posed" shot of the whole day!


And yet, I also want to be subtle.

Sigh...isn't she gorgeous!


I want to find the emotion in a room and be ninja like to capture it.

(The bride is just about to leave and this is her Daddy!)


I want to tell a story that no one else got to see.

Yes, one has to step into the mens room to get some things. It was a first!!! ha haha!!


I want to be forgotten.

Double sigh!!! I just love weddings.


I want to look carefully and really see at just the right time.

This is just before leaving. Both Bride and Groom give their respective Moms one last hug.

I want to capture an image the way the one who loves you most sees you.








Yeah, I had to leave that one blank. It is a goal to work on for sure.


I want to notice details that some one worked hard to create and take the time to capture more of them.


I want to run around like a maniac, catching the chaos and moments between with grace and dignity!


I fought so many fears this day.
I got into the zone and worked HARD and loved every. single. minute. of. it.

That must be why I have agreed to do another wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got a text message the other day from a Mom of a recently engaged girl.
This is a family I have known for...hmmmm, well a long time. At least 10 years, if not more. They are also a part of our church family.
She said and I quote "Hey Missy, would you be interested in doing some engagement and wedding pictures, we love the ones you just did!"
Yeah, I have known them long enough for her to call me Missy! ha ha!
I told her...once I get over the shock of you asking me this I will probably say YES!!!

That is my big news!
Time for more praying friends!!

Thanks for praying.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for sticking with me as I open my heart and let you take a look.