Using Photography to Say Thank You

When I made the decision to make 2011 a year of sabbatical from my photography business, I knew I needed a way to still actively shoot photography in a way that would help me grow…(thus making it a true sabbatical and not just a fancy word for taking a break).

I defined 4 reasons for me to shoot:

1.  I shoot for myself.  All those little personal projects I always thought would be fun to try?  I’m making them happen.

2.  I shoot for my students.  Many of my shoots this year have been educational shoots.  I bring along my rock’in awesome assistant(s) to film the session while I instruct and have valuable video footage to use in my current classes as well as some super awesome classes under development.  Combining my love of teaching with photography at the same time, has been amazingly fulfilling.

3.  I shoot as an excuse to see my family and friends.  Part of the problem with 2010 was my utter burn-out on photography and my lack of desire to shoot my own life and my lack of time to see the people that matter most.  This year I’ve planned several shoots with family and friends just so I could see them and spend time with them.  And have a bucket load of fun 🙂

4.  I shoot to say “Thank You”.  Discovering Beloved has proved to be the ultimate way for me to express gratitude to people who have made an impact on my life.  Remember my “Most Influential Teacher in My Life” that I talk about in my video?  This is that wonderful man!  I love both of these incredible people with my entire heart and owe so much of who I am to their influence.  And even though my intention was to give back, I still walked away having been served.  Thats one of the most beautiful parts of beloved.

Dean+Susan

Married 37 Beloved Years

 

 

 

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah.  She prefers real things over fake things. That includes real butter, real flowers, a real acoustic piano, and real conversation.

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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15 Responses

  1. Tears over here too. These are amazing. One day, when I have more than $4 to my name, I would love for Paulo and me to do a shoot like this. 🙂 Love you!

  2. I am on a break right now. And I need to do some of the ones I WANT to do that are in my head but I seem to not get to them…. I should make a goal to do some next week! LOVE those pictures a LOT!!!!!

  3. Love all them, but that one where he is holding her face in his hands, OH MY! I love it so much. Learning the Beloved techniques is going to have to go on my list of goals for 2012.

  4. This made me tear up. Just beautiful. The Beloved technique, was it the Field Guide that I would need to purchase to learn it or is there a workshop?

    1. Thank you Susan! Beloved is absolutely amazing! I would highly recommend the Beloved Field Guide! I learned the most about how to use the field guide by participating in an online workshop with Jesh earlier this year. I’m sure that he’ll likely offer something again soon! Get on his mailing list! It will be worth every single penny 🙂

  5. Question. How would one go about finding a local “Beloved” photographer? My amazing husband and I have virtually no photos of us together, not even wedding photos (weather snowed in the photographer). We will celebrate our 10th anniversary next year, and you can’t imagine how much it would mean to me to see photos like this in our home.
    Thank you.

  6. Beautiful. Keepsake images which will be handed down for many generations to come! Your work is always more than just a photograph. Your images always tell a story. Gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.

  7. Oh my goodness! These are so beautiful! Really that doesn’t describe at all what you captured here! I read most of the blog on Beloved! I will be finishing it and seeing how I can implement that into my work and life. I had chills the whole time I was reading it. Thank you for sharing!!!!

    1. Melissa, beloved most certainly gives me chills 🙂 Photographing, editing, and every time I look at the images. It is a powerful method of photographing and the more people that discover it the better the world gets 🙂

  8. i am really into this beloved experience…is this only offered by Jesh DeRox? Anyways, I wanted to say that these photos are so…emotional. I love the one where the woman is giving her husband a tender touch on the cheek, and the one where he cups her face in his hands. love love love!

    1. Hi Miranda! Great to hear from you! Anyone can do Beloved! Jesh De Rox offers the Beloved Field Guide which helps give you a starting point on how to get started, and I’m fairly certain he’ll have a class again sometime soon that helps you know how to use it even more 🙂 I highly recommend! You’d love it!

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