Back in 2009 I started thinking seriously about my longevity at being a news photographer. I loved photography and I loved telling stories with my camera but I was unsatisfied. I longed for something different. I knew I wanted to be a small business owner and a full time wedding photographer, but I just didn't know how I would get from point A to point B. It took about two years, but here I am today living out my dreams!

During this time I started a journal. A place for me to try to figure out who I was, what I wanted and where I wanted to go. I scribbled notes, jotted down thoughts and pasted in images. Anytime that I found a piece of inspiration or something that encouraged me I would write it down or cut it out and place it in this notebook. This book went everywhere I went. And it's pages are filled with thoughts and ramblings. It's fun to go back and read through it.

I still use this book to this day! I find it especially helpful if I need some inspiration before a shoot or the wedding day. I'll go through and find some poses that I want to try and experiment with. With each picture I study it and write down why it appeals to me. Maybe it is the composition or the feeling whatever the case may be I try to figure out why I am attracted to it, so I can understand it.

I find a lot of my inspiration from magazines, travel photography, paintings, music, reading, scripture, being outdoors, fashion, architecture and more. I encourage you to discover the things that inspire you. Start a notebook or a list. Compile together pieces that mean something to you, something tangible that you can look to, to get inspired, encouraged, refreshed. It's so important for artists to constantly be stretching and learning, finding new ways to ignite their creativity.

So make an excuse to head to Target and purchase one of their fancy notebooks. Start filling the pages with all of the things that inspire you today!