10 Minutes towards Confidence

Confidence rarely happens that quickly and it also doesn't stay for too long.  We can always get it back though! It is something that gets easier with practice, but also happens WHEN WE DECIDE TO GET THERE.  When we decide to be kind to ourselves.  When we detach ourselves from the outcome, and just start living in the present. When we become aware of our thought patterns and get really honest with ourselves.  When we choose to have fun with ourselves instead of internally criticizing ourselves.

Allowing myself just 10 minutes to get in front of the camera brought more self awareness and eventually led to seeing the empowered and fun version of myself.  

I'll be honest...this 10 minutes towards confidence took DAYS of being uncomfortable.

It's so easy for me to keep hiding behind my lens while preaching to everyone else how amazing it is to SEE themselves.  The discomfort of getting in front of the camera is real.  I habitually put so much pressure on myself and start believing that all the stars ✨ have to align for me to have my own portraits done.  (Does this sound familiar?)  Instead of falling into the habit of finding other things to do, putting everything else first, and believing that I didn’t have time for self portraits,  I FINALLY allowed myself 10 minutes after my client left and before I raced out of the studio for my kids.  I prioritized myself.  In these 10 minutes, I struggled setting up my camera, stopped internally criticizing myself, actively shut that insecure side of me away, blasted the music and decided to sing and smile my way through.  Afterall, I had an incredible session that summed up my recent journey and growth period as a human and where I want to take my photography business.  I celebrated.  We can all find something to celebrate!!!  Or we can throw cute little pity parties about what we don’t have and ignore every triumph and beautiful part of our lives (no thank you).  What we choose to believe about ourselves is entirely up to us.   We always have a choice.  When it comes to our own confidence, the choice of allowing time for us to reframe, and the choice of being kind towards ourselves is where the transformation happens.  

This single 10 minute experience led to a deeper understanding of myself.  Imagine what an entire session does?  Imagine how much you would know about yourself if you took the time to SEE, reframe, and reflect?  This is the magic of photography.