the power of appreciation

 
Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to photograph on the day of a scheduled shoot. Maybe I’m tired, or my mind preoccupied with something that’s going on personally. Sometimes it’s a matter of simply feeling uninspired or lacking creativity. Whatever the reason, these are the days I secretly wish for the shoot to be postponed.

I expected to get my wish on the morning of this particular session. The weather was wet and gloomy and I knew the mom especially wanted outdoor portraits of her toddler. I quickly made up my mind that the shoot wasn’t going to happen, and had rather excitedly planned how my suddenly free morning was going to be spent. When I tried to reach the client though, I didn’t get an answer or even a way to leave a voicemail. After repeated attempts I grew a bit panicked. If I couldn’t reach her, and she didn’t call me, the shoot would have to go on as scheduled regardless of the weather.

The shoot did in fact go on as scheduled. And not only did I have to contend with less than perfect weather and lighting conditions, but my own sorta crabby attitude for circumstances not turning out the way I’d expected they would. Of course I’d never let this bad attitude reveal itself to my client, but the ugly truth is, I felt it simmering below the surface.

The miraculous thing about photographing though, is that once I begin, something inside me changes. It simply has to, to do the work decently at all. Sometimes I resist this change for a short while, wanting to be right or feeling entitled to have a bad attitude. But inevitably the shift occurs, and I move in the direction of what I know is my true nature. I suddenly find myself seeking out the divine…….looking for ways of connecting and appreciating that which is in front of me. And you absolutely can’t hold on to negativity while in a state of appreciation……it’s not possible.

No, I wasn’t in the mood to photograph when this shoot began, but thankfully the shoot went on anyway. As a result I was able to fall in love with a wonderful little boy who reminded me that I would do well to resist the temptation to let circumstances determine how I feel.

Joy and abundance are the natural byproducts of appreciating what is. The transformational power of this never ceases to astound and humble me.

 
~Cynthia