Julian Engagement // Pie Fight!
It was a while back that we took these engagement photos in Julian [pie country], the editing may show it. However, it was something I stumbled over when backing up drives today and it made me smile.
I dont know exactly when the pressure came… but it did. It was inevitable I guess. The pressure to constantly be putting the best foot forward, to compare, to compete in art. Artistic expression. It’s constantly refining itself, growing and evolving… fortunately now [more than ever] the creation process seems like second nature. At this stage in the process its important to keep having fun, innovating whenever possible and not to get stuck in a rut, creatively speaking.
That leads me to the cause of it, for me anyway.
<<[anti]social media >>
The social media world has made the real world smaller and smaller… and I cant help but go comparing myself to amazing photographers across the globe who’s technical skill I may never match… and who knows, maybe they look at other photographers work out there and think the same thing. Its hard to say.. Im not them. Or maybe to someone else I am? who knows.. but thats the crazy thing about it all. Social media puts one on display for the whole world to see… and you never know whos looking. There was a time [before all this] when everything was a bit more simple. I took pics and posted them without fear of criticism or judgment. Without totally comparing. Maybe it was just being naive or unaware.. but it felt good and there was less pressure. I’d like to get back to that again and I think this is the first step. Posting whatever it is that makes me smile.
These two do just that. Free spirits in love… that end the shoot with a PIE fight! oh yeah!
There is a certain vulnerability that each of my subjects have when in front of the camera. And I think that [generally speaking] as people, often we build a wall to protect ourselves day to day. Some are better at letting the guard down than others are and I will admit that there is a safety in being behind the camera… but the camera also tends to be a reflection of the self: what you put out, you get back. We had a great time right along side these guys. I was laughing so hard during the pie fight at the end Im surprised any shots landed. Its gonna be hard to top this Julian engagement session, thats for sure. One thing is clear now though. ALL Julian engagements should end in a pie fight.
