When the road is clearer

My website is finally here!

I’ve been reading and coming across a lot about growth and this topic in general for quite a while now... Don’t worry, I’m not in a cult or anything strange, or going to try to sell you something now! 🤣🙈

I just thought about sharing this first post from how and what I feel, really from deep down. 

I take this quote to start: “Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone”. 

So it seems like it. I really believe that action generates an effect… whether good or bad that’s another topic; but without action, nothing can happen. And yet here we are. You are reading these lines that I wrote after finally building my website. 

I still can’t believe it! =)

I’ve had this idea (or dream, maybe?) in my mind for a veeeery long time. I’ve been photographing since 2010 and I’ve tried to “get serious” about my website many times, only to come to the conclusion that what I had to show, was not good enough. Not even enough. Impostor syndrome, self doubt, all of that has followed me since I started doing photos (yes, I’m not immune, sometimes they still do) and honestly, it’s been really hard to get past that, to sit down and look at my photos, my work, with other eyes. 

I’ve always believed in the connection between photographer and audience; but recently I’ve learned that just like in life, it’s impossible to like everything or that everybody likes you. We are all different and that’s a fact. 

I guess photography is a reflection of what we see, think, believe and love. For every other photographer out there is the same and of course it’s normal that we all have different tastes. But the truth is, I was always afraid to show my pictures because I was terrified of the idea of someone not liking them. What would they say, you know?

It takes training to improve in a specific activity and this also applies to believing in yourself. Now, I’m training to focus on the things that I’m proud of and bring me joy. Because in the end, my photography is my thing. It is what makes me happy and what makes me feel most alive. 

Henri Cartier Bresson was right when he said “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” Over the years that I’ve tried to build a decent portfolio, I always thought about his words. It’s a blessing if you are born talented, but it takes a lot of hard work to learn something and master it. 

And please don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying I’m a master, whatsoever. I look back to the Arianna that started photography and I’m happy to see how much I’ve learned and changed and more importantly, that I have found my own vision and my own way. Will it change? I have no idea, but I’ll keep doing photos because I love it.

I look forward to continue doing pictures, adding more galleries to my portfolio (there’s one project coming up soon) and keep learning, discovering, connecting with people and enjoying with photography. That’s what’s all about, right?

I’ll finish with this other quote from Zig Ziglar in the hopes that you can also be inspired to do what you love: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great”.

The best is yet to come!

I’ll see you in the next one.

Hope you have a great day!