Shutter Sisters

shine your light

By

We are all good at shining the light on others. Singing praises, commenting on the beauty of everyone else’s art, photos, and lives. Why do we forget that our own light is so very precious and needs to be nurtured and deserves to be praised? As women are we just so busy taking care of others that we forget to stand in our own light? Or do we buy into the belief that such behavior is boastful and prideful, rather than brave and confident? Have we been conditioned to hide our own light? Do those dreadful words, ‘who do you think you are?’ ring in your ears? I am guilty of this. Someone praises my photography, or something I wrote, and I can feel the heat rising in my face,  I actually get a physical response to it. Forget about tooting my own horn, ugh, no way. But why not? If I cannot believe I am worthy than who will? Allowing myself to stand in my own light is something I am truly working on.  Just when I needed it, a very special gift came my way. A locket, a keeper of treasures and sacred things, worn near my heart. Inside, a whisper to my soul… “Stand in your light”. Four little words that speak big to my heart.

We each have our own special gifts to share with the world, rather than being shy or embarrassed by that, why not shout it out instead!  Today shine the light on YOU. Have you done something new or exciting with your photography?  Perhaps a gallery showing, a first photoshoot, opened a shop, entered a contest, been published, taken a class, printed one of your own photos and had it framed just for you? Perhaps there is just a certain photo you are SO.VERY.PROUD.OF.  Go ahead, tell us! Show us! Celebrate it! Whatever it may be, share it with us here today.  Say yes to you and your light.

Like the locket says, stand in your light, you deserve to feel the warmth it holds.

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As extra incentive to shine your light with us, the multitalented artist Liz Lamoreux, creator of the beautiful locket above, is gifting one simple soul mantra locket necklace to one lucky commenter here today. Liz’s shop, soul mantras and other stories, is filled with beautiful pieces each imprinted with special words that speak straight to the heart and soul. Perhaps there is a message your soul is in need of right now. Just leave a comment here by midnight PST to be entered in today’s giveaway.

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GIVEAWAY UPDATE: congrats to Amy, the winner of the simple soul mantra locket giveaway. xo Amy!

Comments

  3. It was the gorgeous photo that drew me in from facebook, and the perfect words that kept me here. what a wonderful post, in every way…the imagery, the jewelry, and the story. absolutely LOVE.

  5. the way i literally shed light on a subject inspires people to see it in new ways
    i know this. not only from deep within myself but also because people keep telling me this over and over again
    most of the time i don' t really believe it. i compare my work to that of others and find a dozen reasons why i fall short
    somehow i find it hard to trust my own vision
    but i keep on shooting pictures and sharing my vision with the people around me and they keep on telling me my images are inspiring and beautiful
    last weekend i went to an indonesian country fair and photographed all the wonderful colors and shapes i saw in the market stalls

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/61760618@N08/sets/72157627358799807/detail/

    i sent a link to the organizers and they were all really excited about the way i captured the essence, the atmosphere of the event

  6. I believe I do this each day when teaching high schoolers. I shed light on my love/knowledge of English and can see how this affects my students and how they perceive my class.

  7. Right now I post photos to Flickr or my blog and I enter contests when I have the time… this is enough for me right now, but I do plan to do more for my self in the near future. Love the locket, the saying and the photo!

  8. I enter some photography contests but I think it is more to find others who might relate to me and inspire me. Sometimes I have surprised myself and my photo has been chosen most times not. I can relate to the poster today as a mother to 3 young girls. I am working on myself though and will get there someday. The locket is beautiful as is the message. The photo is absolutely gorgeous!

  9. I've been taking photos all my life. I was that girl with the camera in her hand. In 2009 I heard of the 365 project and thought it sounded like a great idea. January 1, 2010 I started taking a photo a day and blogging about it. January 1, 2011 I continued – this time with a 52 week project. When I look back through all the photos on my blog from day 1 until now I can see the progression of how my photos have improved. I hope in a year from now I'll be able to see even more improvement! If you have time, take a look.

    http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/

  11. It'll be starting graduate school in photojournalism soon. Sometimes I feel like my pictures are not very special, and that anyone can take the pictures I take. But then I remember that at least someone thought my work was good enough to merit a slot in graduate school, and that makes me feel like maybe I have something special to give.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/madamemeow/

  12. I think my light and my style shows up only to me. I see something I've taken and fall in love with it. I may be only me that does, but that's okay.

  13. After high school I went to art school and never had enough faith in myself. I always looked around and knew everyone was so much more talented. My whole life, confidence has been my downfall. There just never seems to be enough.
    This year I vowed to put it all out there and follow my dreams. I'll never know if I could have been great if I never try. So even if I fail, I will not fail because I haven't tried. After 18 years of dreaming, I've finally started my own photography business. I just want to give people pictures that they will cherish. I don't even want to be rich or famous or the best. I just want to give people pictures they will love.

    http://www.amygillardphotography.com

  14. i havn't done anything formal with my photographs, it is my passion & i have decided recently to do something creative with them, i am in process of planning a gift card range (taking part in kelly rae robert's course http://kellyraeroberts.com/flying-lessons to help me get there) i recently planned my first practice photo shoot with my family out in the country, i am really proud of the results & i ignored (still trying to, cause it keeps coming into my mind) the "who do you think you are??" & told the world (small as mine is) via social media that i am a bit excited about them. This is timely, I love your necklace & what it means…to be free

    http://magnetisedbylife.blogspot.com/2011/08/to-be-free.html

  15. Thank you for the post, it's so true…. especially for women. We are so busy giving to others and never to ourselves. I try to remember to thank myself often for making my dream a priority. I left my career as a journalist to pursue my passion in photography. As my four year old would say… It makes my heart happy!!!

  23. I love her shop…such beautiful, inspiring pieces. I recently got some of my photos printed out and i put one of my favorites up in my living room to inspire and remind me that i can do this, and that i should see my passion through. I believe very strongly in believing in yourself and standing in your light!!

  25. "…darkness has a hunger thats insatiable, and lightness has a call that's hard to hear… "
    This blog post reminds me of that treasured Indigo Girls lyric. I had an epiphany this year, that it is through the darkness that I find my own light and like a poster above, I think it's only me who sees it and another lesson in life, I'm totally okay with that. Here is one of *my* most favourite images that I've taken… I've been drawing on it a lot lately to re-inspire. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedivinemissm/5000317805/ blessings to all, I'd love the opportunity to win such a beautiful, totem. xx

  28. Wow, this post really resonates with me! I still have trouble being seen with a tripod and my fancy camera and lenses (which I am so, so lucky to have been able to afford) because of that nagging "who do you think you are?" comment that comes into my head; if someone asks me what I'm doing, I always respond with a comment along the lines of 'just playing around' or 'just a hobby', etc.

    I'm trying to get up the nerve to have my neighbor friend display and sell some of my printed photos in her hair salon as she has offered. I do feel like it is boastful and I am supposed to be humble and never take credit. I also feel guilty, too, because I have a regular job, so why should I sell photos when there are real artists and pros trying to make their living this way? . . . ahh, the guilt that comes with being a woman! I have gotten a bit more brave lately though . . . here and there . . . by giving photos away to friends and families and entering contests and I do print plenty for myself, but that doesn't make me feel gulity nor too boastful . .. someday, I need to take the next step! Thanks for the reminder that it is okay to be proud of yourself and your work.

  31. Thank you for your beautiful post today, Kristin. It moved me to tears. I have been working through my own worthiness issues of late, so this is very timely.
    For me, I have my very first official photo shoot at the ballet studio I dance at. Twice now, I've been the only one with a camera around at performances & now our Artistic Director actually asked me -not our official guy- ME, to take some shots of class for our website. I am both nervous & busting at the seams!

  32. wholehearted and tear-soaked gratitude for this exquisite offering. a soul mantra locket necklace…what grace. thank you.

    at 3 sisters village, we are creating an online gallery exhibition of visual art (theme: body). we invite you to join us, if desired. http://bit.ly/nKJyPf

  33. light shining more each year as i move more into my own light!
    thanks for turning me on to such beautiful jewelry, wow!

  36. So true…
    I have been working on lovin' and showing new light on the way I care for my family. Simple daily activities.
    Such an important part of my life and documenting in thru photos is an wonderful way for me to look back at the end of the day… a loving journal of photos. Sometimes when I feel like I have not measured up in some way I look back at those postive moments. Such a good boost for me.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/32006501@N04/6072704561/in/photostream

  44. What a marvelous giveaway! Something to remind ourselves that we are talented and worthy. I wrote about my fears and the voice in my head, just today, before visiting here. "Afraid… we fade." http://www.kateyeview.com/2011/08/afraid-we-fade.html

    It's good to know that we aren't alone in this. It's good to have physical reminders like a necklace that help us celebrate ourselves and our accomplishments. Something to give us confidence and acceptance for the light we bring into the world. Thanks for the reminder of that today!

  45. whenever i catch myself being completely negative about a particular photograph that i've taken, i force myself to find one thing that i love about it. because you're right, letting your own light shine and celebrating it is just as important as celebrating other people.

  48. It IS a gorgeous locket….and i want to know why we are hardest on ourselves and DON'T give ourselves enough credit…well I don't anyway…..
    this locket would be an everyday reminder to change thaT BAD THINKING into a more positive one.

  49. How beautiful & this post talked to me. As I am trying to do just that at this moment. I am SAHM who is trying to find "me" yes there is nothing more priceless then being blessed to stay home with my children and do what I need to at home but I have found that photography is giving me another set of eyes. Its all a world wind right now as I am learning and observing so much. So for me I'm trying to share my light & have been brave enough to start a blog JUST dedicated to what I see through my Lens and it feels AWESOME. Thanks for the chance.

  52. I love Liz's work! I do think it's often hard for us to see what we have done, to be proud of ourselves.. lots of times we are too busy looking at what is not yet done and forget all about what we have accomplished..

  53. This touches my heart today. I have had this subject on my mind heavily for the last few weeks. Each one of us makes a difference and we only do that by sharing our light. It doesn't have to be grandiose. Every little thing counts and I am trying to find the best way I can share my light in my life right now. Thank you for sharing this. I would absolutely love one of these lockets!

  54. i'm in the process of trying to choose two photos to have put on canvas for the first time. i'm loving the anticipation and excitement of giving them as a gift!

  55. It's so true. What you speak of. I am guilty, guilty, guilty. One thing I am pretty happy about is that Getty Images invited 11 of my images to be part of their collection. That made me VERY happy and proud of myself!

    Here are a few of the ones they selected:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5629713267
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/4323939271
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/4324675634

    And these two I just LOVE and I am very proud of:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5841069969
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5679104854

  56. Thank you so much for this post. What a gorgeous locket – and message within! Learning to bask in the light, instead of hiding in the shadows, is easier said than done for many of us. Thank you for this encouraging reminder.

  59. I think we all need to work on this. Self-praise is not a bad thing, yet we are all afraid of it.

  62. Thank you for the inspiration…I've felt a little defeated lately…I will stand in my light!!!!!1

  64. beautiful post. beautiful necklace. beautiful mantra. just lovely.

    I don't know much at all about photography but I just took my first class and I loved it.

  65. wow. this speaks to me. When people compliment me (my painting, or my photography) my first reaction is to say, oh, i'm not that good and to think that because they aren't "Artists" that they are easily impressed by any artistic ability–good or bad.

    Recently, my best friend and I started a portrait photography business (and I still have a hard time telling people that I'm a photographer)
    http://www.adifferentlightphoto.com

  66. liz's work is soulful and i do love the mantra "stand in your light"
    i work with light through my film photographies and always so grateful for it
    thank you for your words and gift, i am letting them sink in and it feels magical already

  68. That locket…amazing…

    saying yes to me and my light…such a foreign concept to me. like you said…we find it SO easy to toot the horn for others but for us to toot the horn for ourselves..well…that almost blasphemy….

    a little bit cant be so bad…can it???

    well, what i like, in my photography is that I love the moment i capture in them…they seem like relatively simple moments but those simple moments make for a wonderful life and I love that gift…

  70. Thank you for such inspiring words. I just started my blog in July and it has truly been a healing process and confidence booster for me. I also just purchased your book 'Shutter Sisters' and can't wait to dive into it head first. It's so good to see all these talented women out there posting their feelings about confidence in their art. I am slowly getting there on my journey!

    eyeonthesparrow-shay.blogspot.com

  71. love the photo… love the locket… love your words!
    couldn't agree more!

    speaking of light and standing in it, this is my favorite photo i have ever taken…
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/5035064276/in/set-72157624966301661/
    and i LOVE that you give me permission to celebrate my accomplishment… to toot my own horn about it. i have for the past year {it's coming up on a year ago that it was taken… sept. 27th… and i get to see her again this sept!!!}, and sometimes i feel like maybe i'm too "proud" of it. but you remind me that it's okay!!

    coincidentally, this is a photo of my friend {who i met in the blogosphere} named claire… and claire means "light"!

  72. I finally signed up for photography classes this Monday. Maybe it's a first step. I can hardly wait!!

  73. I wanted a sunset shot. The day, in March, my grand daughter graduated from pre-school started off rainy but cleared up by late afternoon. I thought the weather conditions might make a nice sunset so I set out to find a high spot to watch the sun set. I came across a little run-down building and decided to include it in the shot. I have been able to do several things with the photo, crop it and add a texture to it, but the one I had printed on canvas and hangs in my family room is the sunset just as spectacular as it was that evening.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/mainmim/5719831011/in/photostream

  74. I love to quilt and while everyone I show my quilts to praises the workmanship, I can see (and usually point out) some of the "mistakes" that make the quilt less than perfect. I need to learn to stop that! No one will notice those little imperfections as they look at the quilt as a whole. I need to be reminded daily to look at the "whole" of everything. The locket is a wonderful reminder!

  78. Beautiful post! Something that we all need to hear, every once in awhile. I have realized that sometimes I am my own worst enemy because I don't allow myself to shine, and it's been something that I have been working on recently.

  79. Lately I have been in a rut, my energy has been away from computers and my camera, and towards enjoying this time of year. But before this rut I did complete the first photo volume of my daughter's first year. I plan on doing one for each year, and the first one came out beautifully.

  81. I am starting a new job at a nursery school where love is the focus, and the children are allowed to play, wild and free. I was honored to be hired this summer after many (many) years just working part-time in the evenings and dedicating my energy to being home with my children, but I really am most proud of the fact that the school's director asked me to bring in a collection of my photos, because "she finds them to be wonderful expressions of the the beauty, grace, and wonder of childhood"…be. still. my. heart. I am proud of that.
    It's not easy to stand in our own light…but I so want to. xox

  82. I love to get inspiration from others blogs and I participate in a Project 52 program with some family and friends. Thanks for the inspiration.

  84. Kristin,
    What a timely post!! I just finished something really different and it was accepted at the local art league and went on display today! It was exciting to complete this project. I had been working on editing wedding photos all summer and hadn't done anything for myself in a while:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/6074759677/in/photostream/

    Also, I got this little saying on my tea bag today and it made me think of your post!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/6074761837/in/photostream

    And you forgot something! What have YOU done to stand in your light lately! Do share, Kristin!! xoxo!

  86. to answer your question amy, i did my very first client photo shoot just last week for a fmaily of 8!!! eeep! talk about jumping in head first. i made many mistakes but will take them with me and learn from them. i was just so proud that i finally tried.
    xo kristin

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  89. How exciting. I totally know what my quote would be if I were to win. And if I don't I might just have to order it anyway. Certainly less painful than the tat I've been contemplating.

  90. i seem to give praise a lot, to others – not myself.
    but lately, i have been calling myself a photographer. just saying those words is a big step for me.

  91. I felt like I was kind of at a standstill with my photography. Not necessarily that I was stuck, in a negative way, more just had so many ideas and wasn't sure where to go next. But I knew I wanted to learn & grow, try new things & further my skills. So I took a photography workshop a few weekends ago that was wonderful, and I also have been working on learning photoshop once and for all! Really and truly learning it. So I started with Kim Klassen's Skinny Mini class, now I graduated to the big girl class. Here is a shot I edited with a few of my skills…and I feel like I have so much more to learn. I love that feeling!!
    http://flic.kr/p/afRdB5

  92. what a beautiful photo, wonderful locket and so well written post. i am here with every word. i really find very hard to believe in myself, in my photos and in my success. it is so hard to accept good words and to believe that i truly deserve them.

  94. I love your lockets! And I love all you do in the world! Would LOVE to wear one of your pieces. It would be such a wonderful birthday gift for MYSELF!

    xo
    *c

  95. Standing in my own light and celebrating today's greatly improved ct scan. My light is strong and bright today!

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