“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.” ~ African Proverb
Back in 2009, after teaching my photojournalism students with Canon DSLRs for 3 years, I finally decided I had outgrown my advanced point and shoot camera and was ready to invest in something that would allow me more creative control over my ideas. I knew a lot about photography, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to begin working toward my goal to have my own business, but I knew I still had SO much to learn. So, being a teacher, I began to browse the internet for programs online that provided education for people like me who had a passion for the art and wanted to develop their skills. I couldn’t really find anything that wasn’t a degree program. There were TONS of resources, tutorial, etc…but it was all so overwhelming, and I knew myself well enough to know that I needed a “home base”. A learning community of sorts where people, who all had a common goal, could go to learn, share, and help others.
I found Clickin Moms.
It first appealed to me because of the name. I was a mom of 2 little ones and my interest in developing my photography skills really resurfaced after my first son was born in 2005 and we could finally afford to buy a DIGITAL camera. Then, After my 2nd son was born, my interest began to peak. I thought joining a group of other women, moms, who had more in common than JUST photography would be a great fit for me.
Boy, was it.
I’ve had the pleasure of watching Clickin Moms grow. It started with a few women with a vision in 2008. When I joined in 2009, there were a few thousand members from what I can recollect. Today, in 2012, it is a global community of over 22,000 women (and a few men) who are artists, hobbyists, and professional photographers alike. There is even a Clickin Mom’s University that offers high quality courses taught by some of the most talented artists in the photographic industry! I don’t know what I would do without it. Being an active participant for 3 years has played a key role in not only my photography journey but my personal journey as well.
I am a people person. I like people. I like making friends. I enjoy having close relationships with people. That is just who I am, and that is part of why I love teaching. I LOVE watching my students learn and grow. It brings me joy. Being part of this community has not only impacted my artistic journey, it has opened up friendships with women from across the world who share a passion for photography but who also expose me to learning in SO many other areas of life. I have learned so much from other women who are not only artists and mothers; they are doctors, teachers, lawyer, graphic designers, professors, pilots, brokers, web specialists, chemists, researchers, nurses, and SO MUCH MORE. I am a better person for being exposed to such a culturally rich and diverse community. Now, some might say that it is a bit odd, or a bit creepy, being so committed to an online community. I might think myself a bit odd too, but I have actually had the opportunity to interact with many of these women and they are just as nice in person as they are online! LOL.
So, here I am 3 years later. I have made friends, read thousands of tutorials, submitted countless images for critique and growth, practiced, practiced, practiced, and have taken countless workshops from some of the most respected artists in the industry…
I was finally ready to try something that has been a goal for mine since it was first introduced to me.
I wanted to apply for CM Pro. CMPro members are artists who have demonstrated mastery of technical skills and creative vision in their work…. and one can only earn entrance by submitting a portfolio of work to be critiqued in several areas of technical mastery and creative vision by a panel of artists who are highly respected for their mastery of craft and knowledge of photographic art.
Putting yourself out there at the risk of being rejected is really hard, and it certainly isn’t for a person with thin skin. Thankfully, I have been blessed with a lot of “critique” in my life, so I was ready for it (ok, well maybe not COMPLETELY ready). But, I felt like I needed to risk rejection if I was going to continue to really grow in my journey. I needed to be evaluated professionally on my strengths and my weaknesses in order to grow. I teach my students that every day. Sometimes we get so close to our own work that we can’t see the flaws in it. We are just too personally connected to it to be objective. I needed fresh trained eyes to help me see what I had mastered and what I needed to continue working on.
So, on July 21st, I filled out my application for Pro. I haven’t been that nervous since I took my Graduate Entrance exam. Seriously.
Two tortuous weeks later, I got the email…
“Congratulations, and welcome to CM Pro.”
It may not mean much to a lot of people. But it isn’t about a title. To me, it is about working hard, challenging myself, and taking a risk in order to grow. It is about setting a professional goal for myself and reaching it.
This journey just went to a whole new level, and I am SO excited for the learning that is still out there waiting for me!