She Found Her Passion!

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Intro by Jes Gwozdz:  I would like to introduce my friend Karin O’Brien who is blogging for us today about her big ah-ha moment where she realized what she really wanted to do with her photographic talents.  I was with Karin at Todd & Jamie Reichman‘s seminar in Chicago where we discussed what really sets us each apart as unique individuals in this industry, and it was amazing to watch Karin’s soul-searching and subsequent epiphany happening live before my eyes.  What Karin has decided to focus on is unique and I am so glad she found a niche that truly speaks to her heart.

Howdy folks!  I wanted to take a few moments today to give you the story about how I discovered my passion in photography.  But first, a little background.

One day waaay back in 2009, I attended a meeting of our local PPA affiliate. The speaker was Todd Reichman, and he was beyond inspiring. Challenging each attendee to really question their motivations in photography, what really inspired them to get behind the camera.  It struck me as a very methodical process – similar to root cause analysis and the five “whys” – asking hard questions until you find the very root of the issue.

The conversation he had with a photographer in the audience went something like this (and I’m paraphrasing – my memory isn’t exactly the best regarding moments last week, let alone nearly 5 years ago!):

Todd (TR): What is your specialty?
Jane Photographer (JP):  “weddings”

TR: Ok Jane – there are at least 100,000 others with the same specialty. What makes you unique?  Why do you love weddings?
JP: I really love the celebration of love and family.

TR: Alright, that’s the same answer for every photographer out there. Dig deeper.  What is the magical moment for you?
JP: When the father walks the bride down the isle – I’m always in tears.

TR:  Why?
JP:  Because it’s beautiful.

TR:  Why?
JP:  Well, my father isn’t alive, and I’ll never get that moment. So I know how very special it is – a treasure”.

End scene.  Tears ensue.

That reason and that connection with photography, well, that is what makes it personal to YOU.

You will know when you hit your ah-ha reason when it feels like you’ve been hit by a ton of bricks. When you can’t hold back the tears. When it lives and breathes inside of you and even as time passes the fire doesn’t get less dim. I held onto this idea for over three years before I actually acted on it, and even a year after finally getting the ball rolling I can tell you it is just as strong today as it was when I sat in that PPA meeting.

When I was in that meeting, I asked myself the same “Why” questions and came to realize my favorite photos were without fail the ones where the child was clinging lovingly to their bear, buddy or blankie (which I like to call a Lovey).  I connect with those mangy, threadbare, dirty little loveys; because I know firsthand just how important they are to people.

These images were so special to me because I had a deep, deep connection with my own bear, Ted.  I was given Ted as a baptismal gift when I was an infant.  Ted was relentlessly by my side or soaking up my tears through every major and minor event in my life – separations of my parents, heartbreak from boys, getting kicked out of the house as a teenager, travelling across the US and abroad, and even through my own divorce. Never judging, just there to comfort me and help me let it all out.  It wasn’t until my early 30s that he was officially retired from my bed to a place of honor in a beautifully made, archival box.

Realizing my own “root cause” of photography helped me determine my passion in photography.  Yes, I still enjoy other portraiture and I especially love photographing small events, but discovering this passion helped me focus my business to a specialty product.  It allowed me to launch a business dedicated to the connection between lovey friends and their humans. I have never been more proud of something, and so confident on how organically the idea was developed in my heart.  I hope you are able to take some time and “dig deep!” to find what lights your photography fire, too!

Karin O’Brien

Karin O’Brien is a rugby player turned engineer turned photographer who is constantly striving to learn and live her life as her best self.  A Michigan native, she currently resides in Morton Grove, Illinois with the love of her life and her two deliciously crazy children, and continues to root passionately for Detroit sports teams despite being bombarded by Chicago lovers at every turn.  She is a great purveyor of hugs and loves to celebrate the everyday victories. She brings her vibrant personality and enthusiasm to photographing various special events in the Chicagoland area, and is dedicated to the preservation and veneration of the childhood Lovey.

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Categorized in: Business, Guest Bloggers, Portraits