“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” – Albert Szent-Györgyi
At first, their mamas were excited when I asked if the girls would mind modeling for me. I had a photo shoot idea and thought they’d be a perfect match. Their excitement quickly turned into perplexity — *where* was I taking them? To a flooded strip of forest next to a playground? In the muck? The dresses may get muddy — and wet? Still, these women were such good sports — and so were their girls. I think they let them come along, in part, out of curiosity!
The Hampton Roads area was recently flooded due to a Nor’ Easter. When I took my son to the playground a few days later I noticed a golden patch of light dancing on the flood waters — the autumn leaves bursting in the background. The water was only a few inches deep, but cut like a river through the path. It was magical — and then the light was gone. I knew I wanted to come back — and two days later, we arrived at just the right time. The magic hour. And, the waters hadn’t receded yet.
The quizzical looks (followed by the snickers) of the playground moms and the small crowd that gathered as I shot made me smile:
“She’s taking pictures of those girls in that water?”
“That’s disgusting!”
“Well, that’s interesting.”
“Bizarre.”
Yes, the doubters.
As artists, we must realize that it’s okay to break convention, to pursue a vision that others don’t see (and never could). To see potential in a group of weeds at sunrise, or a flooded forest path at sunset. Pursue your ideas with gusto and aplomb. Although sometimes you will fail — often, you won’t.
I am grateful for you — my friends and clients (and these mamas) who trust my vision. Who without hesitation, will work in a setting that they don’t understand. I wish the doubters, who looked at the process with disdain and laughter, could see the results. My guess is that their tone would be different.
johnwaire | photo - …posts like this make me want to reach for my lens immediately. great inspirational series stephanie.
alisae - Wow, i LOVE it! great shots, incredible vision. cant wait to see these shots on a full size monitor and not my phone…
J'Lynn - GORGEOUS!!!!
Stephanie Larsen - These look awesome, Steph! I agree – I wish the other moms at the playground could see these. I love their simple “princess dresses” against the water, and how you caught their complexion and the shades of their hair in the light. Thanks for sharing!
anna - i would write a defensive manifesto to hand out to the snickering momsters and create t-shirts with these beautiful images to wear to the playground…you? you’re content to do what you do…which is why you are sooooo good…and why these are absolutely to die for.
beautiful post…you are always, always such an inspiration…personally and professionally. i lurv you, steph!
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Chelsey - Beautiful … no room for the haters, the haters mad ’cause I got four seats at the Lakers
… you definitely have more than four seats. Vision is a very good thing.
crystalyn - wow stephanie…these are amazing. i love your vision. i especially love the first one and the emotion captured there. who am i kidding…i especially love them all. gorgeous.
Jody - these are hauntingly beautiful and inspiring.
Beata English - WOW- these images are stunning! I just love them!!! AMAZING Capture!
emily - breathtaking! Truly over the top beautiful well done.
tara - I am so with you. Sometimes, it is hard to move beyond the doubters, but I know whenever *I* do it, I am so proud of myself. These are incredible.
Sarah Wheeler - These are gorgeous Steph, good for you for making your vision a reality. Their mom’s will love these, and as far as the doubters, they’d love them too! xoxo
shawn - WOW WOW WOW. i wish i could find some color like that here! simply beautiful Steph. & great lens baby work!
wiff - Love it. You couldn’t have said it better. What an awesome (and I use that word sparingly!) image/images.
elena w - these are fantastic – your vision for these shots is fantastic.
and thank you for sharing your ‘doubters’ experience. I will think of this whenever I will feel weird again, and I will follow through.
It sounds like you did it with style and class and followed through unmoved. it always pays off.
Karen Linnell - these are just amazing. true art! i need to fight the doubt inside myself. this story has helped me. i would love to see the look on the doubters faces if they saw these images!
stephanie - beautiful girls and exquisite photos!
katie - these give me goosebumps they are so beautiful.
Kelly Gao - Amazing!!!! These photos are breathtaking!!!!!
Rena Phillips - Steph, Your work is amazing, the pictures of these girls are breath taking and I am so glad I came to view your new site.Keep
up the beautiful work, I have always been proud of you, but now seeing this makes me that much prouder, you are truly a lovely young wife,wonderful loving mother and have a God given gift to see all His beauty around you.You and your work is a Blessing to all who shares in the work and all those who veiw it.
Donna Good - lensbaby is the perfect tool here.
jessica g - That second one took my breath away. Gorgeous!
amy b - holy smokes. i love your work Steph and these are just breathtaking.
admin - Thank you all for your encouragement and thoughtful compliments. They fill me up…truly. xoxo, s
Kylie - Doubters Schmouters! LOVE your vision Steph – and that you made it come alive!
Deanna - WOW, Love your stunning images and I love that quote.. Simply amazing!
Ambre - I have to say that these are excellent. I am not sure if I am just being overly emotional (I should ask my husband about that) or if you actually brought tears to my eyes on the first one. Either way, emotion was there. Being able to evoke that through an image of a stranger makes you extraordinary. I hope that one day I can bring that same emotion to someone through my shots.
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elizabeth pellette - wow.. love these.. so so pretty