Behind the Lens
The Short Version:
Life is never boring at the Barber home!
I am a mother to four active kiddos. Two girls, then two boys. Their current ages are 16,15,11 and 8. I love to find the beauty in the everyday. (I also have a terrible memory, and need a photo sometimes to remember the good stuff.) Candid photographs inspire me to remember that EVERY moment truly is a part of the beautiful tapestry of our lives. I tend to really like capturing small details.
I also love art, reading non-fiction (how-to anything), theme parties, Pinterest, hot fudge, oh, and babies...
The Autobiographical Version:
My personal philosophy is that we all have an inherent creativity. Maybe some people have more or less than others, but it is there. It is an expression of the attributes of the One who creates us, the ultimate Creator. I have always been interested in this creative process. The humbling privelege of being allowed to experience the creation of a new life inside my own is the most thrilling creation experience of all. W.O.W. I desperately wish I had taken the time early on to intentionally capture some of those thoughts and moments. Babies aside, anything we create has meaning and beauty-even if it doesn't look like the typical Masterpiece. The thoughts, actions, and feelings that are represented by the process are just as important as the final product. In addition, (and more relevant to a photography client) art has meaning based on how it makes others think and feel. We can go beyond looking, and experience a photo. It can bring floods of emotion, reignite a tender moment, help us recall how grandma's house smelled, or make us wonder about something we never considered. These are some of the things I love to explore in my personal photography.
I have always been creative, and discovered drawing in fourth grade. My very first "real" drawing was a realistic sketch with a ballpoint pen. It turned out to be only the rear half of a baby in his overalls. I started at the feet, and ran out of room on the paper! But, the realization that I could recreate something on paper was truly significant and exciting to me. I still keep that first attempt, because it represents inspiration and discovery to me. I continued exploring art in high school, and began an art major at the University of Memphis. Unfortunately, I decided I should be more 'sensible and practical.' Who could support themselves with an art degree?
I dabbled with crafts and continued some painting while working in my chosen sensible field of logistics marketing. After meeting my best friend, I married him! When the babies arrived (one after another) I became very frustrated trying to find an outlet for creativity. Everything seemed too time consuming, or messy, or took too much room (which was in high demand at the time.) I tried to capture the sweetness and beauty of my babies, but it often fell so flat.
In my dismay, I began reading and learning about photography. My dad let me use his old 35mm Canon AE-1 film camera. Boy, has technology changed. My friend and I had photo outings where we tried to work on the manual focus, and the exposure. Soon, there were even more babies :) Time was beginning to disappear, after feeding, changing, driving, dressing, and then doing it all over...there was little daytime left. I won't even get started on the nights! I begrudgingly went back to the quickie snapshots. At least there would be some record of the birthdays and milestones, right?
Fast Forward...my thoughtful husband bought me a real SLR (still film) and I made some efforts to learn a little more. He has been my biggest cheerleader and supporter in any personal endeavors. He has always encouraged me to create, and has insisted that our home reflect my artistic work, and now we even include the kids' creations, as well! In 2007, he went a step further, and presented me with the real deal (for beginners.) A digital SLR. A dream come true! Now, my pictures would be perfect, I thought! LOL! I soon learned that there is SO much more to beautiful images than a good camera. This time, the photography bug really caught hold. I recognized a way to bring art and family together. It is no longer a messy medium, since the darkroom can be on your computer. And it can be done without adding another room onto my home! Plus, photography lets me use the most personal and important subjects imaginable. The sparks were beginning to fly! After studying, reading, taking classes, joining forums, being critiqued, and learning to edit...I began to actually see my dream peeking out from under the covers.
My latest adventure is a shiny new Canon with both still and HDR video capabilities. Woo hoo! I can't wait to expand the new horizon!
I am still learning every single day. From watching others, from documenting my own life, capturing my kids' experiences, and from sessions with other families. Still reading, practicing, and getting feedback from others. I hope that this process never ends. I never want to run out of new ideas and adventures.
Fast Forward...my thoughtful husband bought me a real SLR (still film) and I made some efforts to learn a little more. He has been my biggest cheerleader and supporter in any personal endeavors. He has always encouraged me to create, and has insisted that our home reflect my artistic work, and now we even include the kids' creations, as well! In 2007, he went a step further, and presented me with the real deal (for beginners.) A digital SLR. A dream come true! Now, my pictures would be perfect, I thought! LOL! I soon learned that there is SO much more to beautiful images than a good camera. This time, the photography bug really caught hold. I recognized a way to bring art and family together. It is no longer a messy medium, since the darkroom can be on your computer. And it can be done without adding another room onto my home! Plus, photography lets me use the most personal and important subjects imaginable. The sparks were beginning to fly! After studying, reading, taking classes, joining forums, being critiqued, and learning to edit...I began to actually see my dream peeking out from under the covers.
My latest adventure is a shiny new Canon with both still and HDR video capabilities. Woo hoo! I can't wait to expand the new horizon!
I am still learning every single day. From watching others, from documenting my own life, capturing my kids' experiences, and from sessions with other families. Still reading, practicing, and getting feedback from others. I hope that this process never ends. I never want to run out of new ideas and adventures.
