Magic Monday: Information Overload

I loved this post over at DPS on 5 Mind Traps of Beginning Photographers.

There are a few things that I think contribute to some of these mind sets that in turn contribute to discouragement.

One of them I have been feeling myself lately.

I call it the trap of INFORMATION OVERLOAD.

You can read all about photography.  In fact, you could probably get a fairly decent informational education this way.

You can look at millions of pictures or photo blogs online and be completely inspired by great images.

You can hang out in fabulous forums and learn some amazing tips from some great contributors.

but…

until that information is applied, its really quite useless.

Perhaps it was being stuck inside this winter and adjusting to the new schedule of motherhood.  I read so much photography information that I sort of wanted to pull my hair out.  I think I reached a point where nothing else would fit in my brain without forgetting something in order to make space.  It was just too much.  I definitely  had a bad case of information overload.

There’s something to be said for getting away from the computer, getting away from the blogs, getting away from all the information

and using it to create some inspiration by DOING…

Something I loved about taking photography lessons a few years ago was the challenge I gave myself to have 1-2 shoots per week.  I didn’t have a business at all, so I had to come up with something myself.  I’d find subjects and go plan out something fun.

I really believe the consistency of getting out and doing something was the true source of my progress.  All the information is helpful too… but the application aspect is the true transforming power.

Happy April and warm weather you all!  Go out and shoot someone…

with a camera 🙂

We had a happy family warm April Sunday photo shoot in the front yard yesterday… thanks to Ben for the images of me…

Sometimes the act of getting out to shoot is even better when its personal work and for your own family 🙂  Something I don’t do near often enough.

avatarBrooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. She is a proud new mother to a perfect baby boy. During the day she uses her BM and MM in Music Composition to write silly songs to make small people smile and laugh. During the nights and select mornings Brooke teaches private photography lessons as well as monthly photography classes in Logan, Utah. During the weekend she dreams up crazy and fun photo shoots for her fabulous subjects. Brooke welcomes comments, questions, new friendships, new clients, and new coats and hats for her growing collection.

8 Responses

  1. I have felt this exact way. In fact, just yesterday I was whining how I feel like I have read so much, taken classes, watched a billion tutorials, and yet my pictures aren’t showing a thing for it! Just goes to show I need to get behind the camera more. Thanks for the post and….SUPER cute pic!

  2. Love it. This is so how I feel! I am trying to be better by studying instead of doing. I’ve got two shoots lined up next week and it feels so good. It’s a lot easy easier to be creative when you’re holding the camera than when you are just looking at images on a computer. I adore your little family picture shoot! You are the most beautiful mother ever and your sweet little boy is so handsome. What a darling family you have!

  3. this is so so true!! you cant read a book and be able to drive a car, you need to actually sit behind the wheel and learn to drive, the same as photography, you cant get better without tons and tons of practice!! xoxo love your blog

  4. I had this exact issue not long ago. Thanks for putting my exact feeling into words. Did you use a flash for that great shot of you & your darling boy? Usually when I take photo with that bright of a background, the faces are a bit darker than I’d like in order to expose a little of the background.

  5. Hi Julie! No flash used 🙂 I never shoot with flash outside. I always expose for faces, not for the background. In contrasting lighting conditions this means that I will indeed lose detail sometimes in the background, but in most cases this really isn’t that important to me. This was shot at an aperture of 2.8, so I’m already blurring out the background and don’t care that its over-exposed since I’m standing in shade. Just a personal style and preference…not necessarily the “right” way to do things 🙂

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