BY DAVID LAWRENCE

I recently began reading a book called “Keep Your Love On”. It discusses how to not play the victim in your life circumstances, but instead to take ownership - of your mistakes, your past, and of present opportunities.

That sounds much easier said than done. However, choosing not to take ownership of your life gets you nowhere. Every day we wake up and have a choice:  we can choose to make each day good or let every little annoyance discourage and define our day.

A photographer friend of mine gets freelance work all across the U.S. in some really amazing places. And to be honest, lately I’ve started growing really bitter. I found myself wondering “Why can’t I do this? Why doesn’t work pour in for me?”

I’ve wanted to sit down and ask how they’ve done it and could they help me? Not because I necessarily want help, but because I want someone to feel sorry for me and to do the heavy lifting of making progression  happen in my life.

Not being where you want to be in life can really hurt. It can really get you down. I know it first hand. But at the end of the day, there’s no need to complain. If you have an idea or a dream,
please: get off your ass and go for it, whatever it be. Maybe you want to be a famous musician or a published writer. In my case, it’s a really awesome photographer. Go for it! God gave you a brain and two hands. Go out and make it happen!

A friend of mine is getting married next month and asked me to be a groomsmen. His wedding is in Seattle. I lived there for three years. It’s a place I’m familiar with and it still feels like home. So, I took advantage of the invitation and sought out every opportunity that I could to take photos while I’m there. I called up restaurants and texted old friends and said, “I have an idea,  can I photograph you and/or your establishment?” And most said yes. So far I have 7 or so shoots lined up and I’m stoked! Is any of it paid? No. Unfortunately not, but it’s still work. It’s others giving me the opportunity to use my brain and creativity to make something awesome and do it well.

When it’s all said and done, I’ll have  added some really sweet pieces to my portfolio. The pieces and experience will hopefully lead to more paid work. I could sit on my hands and “wait” for work to come in; but how will anyone know they can trust me if I don't take initiative first to create and make things happen on my own?

They won’t. And in the mean time, I can’t be mad.

I’m confident that when we do things well and give them our all, doors are opened to more frequent and greater opportunities.