Stop Planning and Start Doing

In February, I made the first images for a new series. I’d been planning it for longer and thinking about it for much longer.

After Christmas, I began gathering natural elements (branches, vines, leaves, pretty much anything that catches my attention and imagination) from hikes and walks on the trails near my house. I'd been imagining this new project and had a few rough sketches of possible poses for future models. Sketches is being generous, really. Pitiful stick-figure drawings would be more accurate.

Anyway, I had a general concept for exploration but was still feeling very not ready.

I’ve learned this about myself, though. I will brainstorm, and plan and prepare, basically over-think myself into paralysis. Having a well-thought-out plan, explainable to others, gives me a sense of control and gives (me) the illusion that I know exactly what I am doing.

Feeling “ready” always seems so critical even though I have learned (several times now) that being in total control is not realistic. Not only is it impossible, it’s not actually necessary or even desirable. For that matter, being in total control does not equal being ready.

It's odd, though, because one thing I love so much about photography is that element of surprise: fabric behaving in a way I didn’t expect, a calm breeze or a gust of wind, unanticipated light play, interesting reflections—those little gifts you get when the Universe participates. It’s magic.

So I had my concept and my sketches and a few ideas for potential models. I had my collection of awesome nature-y props gathered and waiting to play their parts. One “prop” was so big and unwieldy (and thorny) my husband and I had to go back and get his truck in order to get it home in one piece and without drawing blood. It was so beautiful, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. Even though I didn’t have the whole series planned out as “perfectly” as I would have liked, I knew the image I would create with that piece, and I knew it would begin to fall apart if I didn’t get on it.

This is the part where knowing bad ass people who get what you’re trying to do and want to be a part of it is important. For me, this is so helpful because it gives me the will to just get going already! The pressure I put on myself to be ready is unnecessary with humans like this. They KNOW that you have a general idea, that it is going to get tweaked along the way because spontaneity is part of the process and because you are an artist and will be inspired while shooting. They get that and love that about you.

How do you get these people? You work with lots of people and then keep working with these fantastic human beings when you find them because they trust your skills, and more importantly, they trust your intuition.

*You, too, must trust your intuition. This comes with experience. {I'll save that for another post...or book.}

So, in January, on a day I was feeling more self-confident than most other days, I contacted some awesome humans and set a date to shoot.

Reaching out to schedule the first shoot of a series happens almost on a whim, spontaneously, in one unguarded moment of bravery not unlike that split second of commitment that allowed me to jump out of a flying airplane. So many voices whispering, “don’t do it,” “not yet,” “you aren’t qualified.”

I was nervous and unsure and afraid.

Then in a tenth of a second’s worth of courage, fortitude and faith I was free-falling at 120 mph from fourteen thousand feet above the earth in tandem with a badass human who was there to help me have the experience of a lifetime and make sure I didn’t die doing it.

Of course, I had to prepare a little beforehand. I went through orientation, watched the videos, signed my life away, suited up and prepared the best I could, not 100% certain, even as we made our ascent, that I would actually jump.

In the end, though, I didn't need to be ready. I needed to be willing.

Behind the scenes

I ask a lot of people who model for me and am always blown away by how hard another person will work to help me create the image.

Shooting the new series

These sisters always give 110% They don't mind getting dirty or contorting themselves into wild positions. For this shot, the vines around their heads are full of thorns!

4 Comments

Oct 10, 2020, 9:01:54 PM

Christie Stockstill - Thanks, Hope! I'm trying to be more diligent about writing these days! Glad you are enjoying the posts!

Oct 10, 2020, 8:25:27 PM

Hope - So does Keith Carter. ... Just do the work!!! Love the post !!!

Oct 10, 2020, 4:47:52 PM

Christie Stockstill - I have that quote saved somewhere! It's a good one.

Oct 10, 2020, 2:20:55 PM

MaryEllen - Like chuck Close says just show up and do the work, inspiration is for amateurs..

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