It’s about to get real up in here today. I’m going to share something that I’ve realized is a blogging weakness, and what I’ve discovered is the underlying cause of it….

First, I’ve realized that I want and NEED to get better at responding to blog comments. There are plenty of times that even a simple question is asked in a comment and 1) I just don’t respond right away and then forget (oops!) or 2) I think, “They’re probably not going to remember to check back and see if I answered – it’s not like anyone lives to hear from me – they probably won’t even notice, so it’s not a big deal”. First of all, I think we can all agree that’s just a lame reason not to respond (and frankly, kind of lazy). But secondly, it suddenly became massively evident to me why I was thinking that way about something as simple as responding to a comment.

See, ever since actually starting to blog regularly for my business, and thus starting to share more of me, I’ve had this complex about presenting myself as an expert on anything. Sure, I can easily (and excitedly!) share images from weddings and shoots that I’ve done, and I’m super excited to share inspiration for fun outfits. But it’s for the reason of making others happy, and encouraging others, and maybe inspiring others – but never teaching them. I see so many of my photographer friends do posts about camera settings, how to run your business successfully, and even how to organize your office well, and I love these posts. I look at them and think, “Yes! SUCH good information! People will learn so much from this!” and yet, when it comes to myself, I feel inadequate to do the same. I’ve never taught a photography class or workshop, and have only done a little bit of one-on-one mentoring here and there. Because I feel like I still have so much to learn and grow in as an artist, as a photographer, as a business owner….the voice in my head is almost always saying, “Why would anyone listen to you? Why SHOULD they? You still have to ask OTHER’S about stuff, so what right do you have to tell anyone else how to do something?” And so I nod in agreement, and go back to leaving that stuff to all of my talented photographer friends who surely have more to offer.

But you know what? I’m kind of tired of listening to that voice. Yes, in part, it’s true. I am NOT an expert on photography. I’m not an expert on fashion. I’m not an expert on anything. But what I do know, and had lost sight of, is that the beauty of life is that we’re all in different places in our journey. There are tons and tons of talented photographers and business professionals who are waaaaay ahead of me in their professional journey. But there are many who are much earlier in their’s than I am, and who’s steps I walked in just a few years ago. And maybe, just maybe, I’d have something to offer them. Encouragement, advice, input. Words of perfect wisdom from an expert? No. But not nothing. And this is something I’ve “known”, but just haven’t managed to truly believe until now.

My strength and gift in life is that of an Encourager much more than a Teacher, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t go hand-in-hand. By being willing to “teach” what I’ve learned, it can bring encouragement. And that’s what I want to do with all areas of my life – encourage others to keep pressing on, keep growing and keep learning.

So, is this the launching of a new weekly instructional series? No. Not at all. But it IS a commitment to get better at responding to your comments – no matter how big or small the question may be, and to occasionally begin to share more things that might be instructional or helpful, as I have inspiration to do so. Mainly, there will be no more backing away from it out of fear or insecurity of not being “expert” enough. And that in and of itself is a huge step in the direction of growth for me as a person, photographer, and business owner. :)