Student, intern, fashion-obsessed writer, volleyballer, professional cake taste tester and now… photographer!? You read right, folks. Yet another precious title has been added to my resume. I am now a world-renowned photographer. The world just doesn’t know it yet. While this may be a bit of an exaggeration, as well as the taste tester position I added based on my nagging sweet tooth, I did have the opportunity to snap a couple of shots for some Life in the Valley pieces last week.
Now this in no way makes me a qualified photographer. My strategy is to basically point and click, very sophisticated, I know. But the opportunity to try some photography led me to another lesson I’ve realized: do not limit yourself. As a summer intern, a full-time employee or just a regular Joe, it is important to never put a limit on your abilities. I could’ve easily shied away from my assignment but I chose to take it on with the determination and mindset of Mario Testino or Patrick Demarchelier.
And the end product? Let’s just say I need a few more years of practice to rival Demarchelier, but I gave it my best effort. So maybe my current talents lie more with the pens instead of the lens, but who knows what the future may bring!? So I urge you, Style readers of America, to proceed as if limits to your ability do not exist. If that sounds like a fortune cookie fortune that is because I stole it from a fortune cookie fortune. But just because the message came from inside a cookie doesn’t lessen its veracity. Just imagine what we could accomplish if we disposed of fears and reservations! Ditch your doubts and get that new haircut, take a chance on that new guy or gather your courage to skydive. There is no better time than the present to try new things.
I am not sure whether this post morphed into an informative blog post or a confidence-boosting anthem, but my point is, being willing to try new things is always a good thing. I may be giving Jon Favreau a run for his money as a presidential speechwriter with inspirational musings like this. Hey, who knows? You may be reading the blog of the next Annie Leibovitz. I’ve attached some pictures from my day of photography to illustrate that I am, indeed, flattering myself.
Photos & Text by Mary Paige Nesfeder
