Believe

 

 Picture taken under the skies in Red River Gorge State Park, KY

THE first star picture I can say I am proud of [almost entirely..]

October 2012

I feel like I have been all over the place in where I want to go career-wise for my life. I have so many ambitions, aspirations, goals.... it seems impossible to even begin thinking of achieving them all in one single lifetime. But, at the age 22, I can say I have decided... really decided... where I want to take my life. How unafraid I am at the challenges I face. How much ahead that there is to face and conquer. How much there is to truly enjoy.

That is half the battle I have come to find. Decided what you want to be and how you are going to be it. There isn't any I can just do it tomorrow. It's today. Now. In this moment. While you are reading this. You are choosing what you want to be. If you want something bad enough, you'll stop making excuses from why you haven't been chasing after it all along. You just get up and go.

The more you like yourself, the less you are like 

anyone else, which makes you unique.

-Walt Disney

Then, there's the part where you have to accept it deep within yourself. Recognize the biggest challenges you face personally and admire the strengths you hold within. Come to terms with it and love yourself [for as cheesy as it sounds] for all the beauty you possess inside. You have something that you can contribute to the world the people around you can't. When you start searching inside for what you truly need/desire, you will be on a path to discovering the treasure only you can unlock.

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, 

and doing new things, because we're curious and 

curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.  

-Walt Disney-

Most importantly, above everything, you must believe in yourself. Relying on others faith in your abilities can only take you so far. Your urge, desire, and strength to grow is what really carries you forward and without belief in yourself, it will be impossible for you to accomplish anything. 

When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way,

 implicitly and unquestionable.

-Walt Disney- 

The reason I keep quoting Walt Disney is because he is someone I truly admire. I, just like so many other people, grew up watching Disney movies and absolutely adored them. In my adult life, I have learned many things Walt faced and have admired the monstrosity of magic he has created for the world all from the single desire to never stop believing. In himself. In people. In the abilities we have as human beings. And you no what? It was from his sheer desire to constantly grow, make things better, and continue to push when things got tough to create inspiration for himself and others around him. He never even graduated from college and look how successful he became. Why? Well, it's obvious. 

Half the battle is finding and coming to terms with the greatness you hold within. Hold onto it. Seize the day. And never look back unless it's to get your keys to drive somewhere new. Life should be a fun adventure because the world is literally your playground :) Life curiously like a child. Be patient like the trees. Be courageous like a storm. Never give up. Never settle for less. Be all you are and love yourself for it and you will unlock the greatest gifts of life. 

This is my family. The love of my life and 

a very sad looking puppy lol 

[I promise he doesn't look like this all the time...]

Good Night World.

Been too Long

Man! I've been up to soooo much these past couple months.

Starting a business is like having a baby. It needs a lot of attention, care, and feeding to get it to actually grow and love for it will help it develop into a beautiful creation that will last a lifetime. Call me baby crazy but my sister having a baby has made me fall in love with kids all over again!  My little nephew is the sweetest little thing and I cannot wait to watch him grow up.

I've also fallen in love with Instagram! Find me on there @larwinator

I'm working on getting a bank account settled for the business so I can actually take the next steps in buying a flash for my next wedding for my husband to actually use since he's been without one this entire time! And also to allow me to upgrade my websites all into one big lump to make my life so much easier. I've been holding off blogging to be honest because of how much I have to post! Figured I'd wait until I get this new set up and have lots of stuff to put on there :) Not to mention, the new design is super duper cute and totally me! Buuuuut, it's been too long since I did a normal update and my head is about to explode! This has always been such a blessing for me and my thoughts.

Also working on getting new business cards through Moo.com. Their designs are lovely! Cannot wait to see how they turn out!

This month has been crazy! 2 weddings, a senior shoot, and 2 newborn shoots! Work is really starting to pick up and it's making me feel awesome. I'm so close to being able to quit my day job and focus 100% on my photography (which is the direction I've been dreaming of and a process that's taken a few years now)

 If you don't know already, I started a YouTube channel where you can keep up with me and my photography adventures. Or just random stuff I feel like posting!

http://www.youtube.com/user/btownsendphotography

I feel so close and yet so far from where I want/need to be! It's a beautiful journey though that I am taking and I'm learning limits of myself that I never knew I had. The ability to surpass the goals that you set for yourself (and I set standards HIGH for myself....) it feels great. But, I'm walking my steps now in the most exhausted way possible! Definitely time for some R&R.

The hubby and I are planning a trip to Red River Gorge next weekend and I cannot WAIT. 4 days off. Just us two and the puppy in the middle of fall time and we are going camping and repelling. It's going to be awesome and exactly what I need.

Well, goodbye for now!

Brooke

New Video Blog: 365 Day Project

Personal Post: School Rant

Today, I was working at my day job. A girl comes up to the counter buying a few things and she said "I want to get these games before I become a starving college student." And we made light conversation back and forth and I couldn't help but think to myself... Man... I'm so HAPPY I'm not in school right now.

The field I'm getting myself into seems pointless to go to school and study for. Photography. Why should I sit in someone else's classroom to learn from text books and power point presentations that failed to make it into the business (or stopped doing what they sought to do in the first place)? I'm a hands on learner and I learn best from doing. Trial and error. Attending workshops from fellow photographers, and maybe some business lessons would make sense, but never to study photography from a teacher that can only show you their viewpoint on the subject. Sure, school can give you access to equipment you'd otherwise never have, but instead of paying for student loans, why not buy yourself some of your own equipment? Or rent them? Learn for yourself? Why should you need a degree to prove your talent?

To me, a degree in photography is worthless. Your passion, talent, and drive will speak for itself as you get your name out there and the style you create for yourself.

Now, I'm not against school entirely. I want my doctors, lawyers, engineers, mathmaticians, teachers, etc. to learn all that they can for their provided careers. But for anything dealing with art, why do you feel you need a degree? You are learning a technique developed for the masses instead of taking the time to develop your own. You are being molded into a cast of something else. It just doesn't make sense to me.

If you have a vision, drive after it. Thousands upon thousands of artists have emerged in the past who literally owned nothing but the shirt on their back and canvas in hand and they were able to leave legacies behind that mold the beauty of history's forgotten past because they had the passion for creation. A lot of them were rejects of society too. But they never let anything stop them from expressing themselves in a unique way. College just won't teach you that passion. You have to own it and BE it.

The world didn't like my plans when I made them. It didn't like the path I chose to walk or the life I dreamed of having and still do. I've been judged, walked on, scolded, ridicouled, talked poorly about [even behind my back by many closest to me], and yet I can still walk strongly forward with head held high and an unbrittled positive attitude. There's this thing that society tries to grab out of you, take control of, and turn it into something that matches the rest of it. Your individulaity. Be brave. Be strong. Don't ever hold yourself back. Don't let everyone's whispers scream in your ear when you are most afraid. Anything is truly possible. Just recognize that there is something huge out against you, everyday. And the best way to own it is to laugh and smile. Nothing can break you then.

BUUUUUUUUTTT ANYWAY. I haaaaaad to get this off my mind before I fell asleep and thought it could be helpful for those feeling the same way I do! I know I can't be the only one.

Good Night World

Brooke

Video Blog: How I became a Photographer

Travel, Inspiring People, Life

 Looking out from Ash Cave

Hocking Hills, Ohio

April 2010

Whenever I talk to my good friend Dom, I always get reignited with my passion for traveling. It always comes up in topic because he loves to explore just as much as I! But these dreams of mine to go so many places in this world seem to be settling on true, idealistic goals that will help me move forward toward my ultimate adventurism.

Something awesome happened to me. And that my friends was paying off my beautiful Toyota Corolla that I now officially OWN!! Which is a huge financial relief as I was paying $600/month to get it paid off earlier than the loan would end (saves money in interest over all). SOOO, I want to use that money to save as a travel fund :) to do such wonderful and beautiful things in this life that I've been dreaming of.

One of those trips would be next fall with my friend Dom traveling across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver as a road trip. I still don't really know too many places in Canada but I do know that it's a beautifully large country with people spread out everywhere. So, there would be a lot of terrain to cover without the annoyance of tourists (at least in a lot of spots..).

The other idea I just recently had was to take advantage of other photographers. Pro photographers that have been running in a certain category of photography for a long time run photography workshops where you can show up, travel with them, and learn. I love nature photography. Particularly landscapes. And there's a landscape photographer that I follow named Richard Bernabe. He just recently ran a trip to Iceland where 11 workshoppees could follow, learn from Richard and his co-host, and actually travel through different sections of that country all the while learning from them. I've been trying to get an excuse to get out west and something like this workshop would be AMAZING to be a part of!!

http://www.richardbernabe.com/arches_canyonlands_workshop2013.htm

Check out some of Richard's work by clicking here.

So, I just had to spew out my raging excitement before getting my day started <3 br="br"> Life is full of wonder.

Brooke

It's official! Townsend Photography LLC

I want to announce something that is absolutely wonderful!!

I am officially a business owner. My husband and I filed for Townsend Photography to become an officially licensed LLC through the state of Ohio. That means we are able to cover ourselves for any problems in the future involving lawsuits, taxes, audits, whatever the tides may bring!

But the serious aspect aside, my passion has taken its first giant leap to becoming my full time career! July 1, 2012 marks the official date that Townsend Photography incorporated :)

Not to mention, I got a pretty fancy binder with my name on it.

YAYYAYAY

Brooke.

PS: photo taken of my sister who is having a baby in September :) blog from her shoot are coming soon!