Defining Myself

Photo by Shannon from ForTheMommas

A little over a week ago, I attended my fourth blogging conference within one year.  It all started with BlogHer09′ in Chicago last year, and last weekend was BlogHer10′ in New York City.  When I headed to Chicago last year, I had dread, skepticism, and apprehension as it was my first conference.  Would I fit in? Would I have a good time? Would I attend another conference?

In the three plus years of blogging, I have never thought of myself as a writer.  I can tell a pretty funny story, but usually my stories are delivered better in person.  I have an odd sense of humor, and you really have to know me to understand.  I always tell people, “I’m better in real life than my blog”. Seriously, I can’t tell you how many times people have told me, “you are not really angry”.  Duh, I have a hint of sarcasm to my humor. When I talk to other bloggers, I will always mention, “Oh, I loved your post and xyz, etc.”  I NEVER get that said to me.  I get, “Oh I loved the photograph that you took at Disneyland, or I heard you photographed Bloggy Boot Camp.”  I write about some awesome things, sometimes, I swear.

When I start working on blog posts, I tend to write them around my photos.  It is very rare that I publish a post without a photo.  I rarely use stock photographs.  I mostly use those when I’m doing some kind of review or giveaway.  You can tell when I have a busy week, because I don’t post as much here.  When I’m busy with work, family, or whatever, I don’t always have a camera in my hand.

I think my photography and blogging has completely evolved in the past year.  I’m spending more time on my photos and I’ve learned to edit them better.  I actually attended two sessions at BlogHer this year, and one of them was about photography, shocking, I know.  I attended the ROYO-How to Take Great Pictures, Whether You Have a DSLR or Point-and-Shoot session which was put on by Mishelle, Lotus, and Rachel.  While listening to the lovely photographers in front of me, I did a lot of head nodding.  As in, “Ok, I’m doing this photography thing right, I think?”

I think my perspective behind the lens has definitely changed in the past year.  I’ve also tried editing my photos a little bit different, here and there.  While I was in NYC for BlogHer, I served as one of the official photographers for a private party, better known as “Social Luxe Lounge”.  I took over 300 photographs at that event and dealt with some of the major nightmares for a photographer; white balance issues, lighting, night club atmosphere, and some colored lighting.  I learned a lot while editing those photographs.  I hope everyone enjoyed what I captured though.

So when people ask me now the million dollar question…what is that question? Oh, you should know by now.  “What is your blog about?” I will answer, “Photography, I blog through my photography. Whatever I capture through my lens, I blog”.

I’m sure that I will be writing a ton of other posts related to BlogHer and my reflections on it.  I enjoyed it this year, much more than last year.  I was more comfortable this year in my own blogger skin.  I knew what to expect.  I was prepared.  But {giggle}, the photo editing was much worse this year, after.

I took many many more photographs, but I’m doing other posts, where I will highlight specific events I attended, etc.

If you want to see my photographs, feel free.

BlogHer10′ Set

Social Luxe Set