Sunday, October 9, 2011

31 Days Blog to Biz / day 10 - an unexpected lesson

This weekend I had a photography gig for a friend. I was to take pics of his workshop attendees doing their thing.  I visited a bit on Friday afternoon, lots more on Saturday night and a bit more on Sunday afternoon.


Here's me armed and ready in my messy bedroom. :)

However, today is RESET day. And you know what that means. We're tired, we've ordered in a lasagna for the boy and a pizza for me and we plan to sit in front of Netflix and giggle. :) So I'll be showing you some of my fav shots another day.

But I would like to mention something that meant a lot to me.


This wonderful man Stephen overheard me at the workshop the first day. I was squawking that I wasn't landing the shots on Automatic with the low light issues and people movements. And without missing a beat, he stood up from his own work and took the time to talk to me about working in Manual.

But it didn't stop there. He knew the info wasn't clicking in so he attempted again later on. We sat at one of the banquet tables while I scribbled notes on the white paper tablecloth.

I was pretty pumped when we figured out together what would work and then I tweaked it on my own abit more.... and nailed it!

My gosh... this lesson couldn't have come at a better time. I wanted to include some of this type of info in the photography book but didn't know how I was going to grasp it....

Today's lesson? Don't fear about talking about things that don't work. You never know who'll be around the corner with exactly the info you were hoping for. There are many awesome folks out there that are more than willing to give you a helping hand so you can achieve your own goals.

I tend to want to wallow and not 'bother' anyone if I don't know how to do something. But every time I've spoken up to someone, I've always received the answers.  It's really hard to push the pride thing aside sometimes but I think in order to succeed, it's critical to let that go. You'll also be allowing that person to feel the after effect of helping another and you KNOW how wonderful that one is.

Thank-you Stephen! I'll be practicing what you taught me daily until it's 2nd nature. Without notes. :)

As for now, it's time to take in that pizza and movie. See you tomorrow!

Do you allow pride to get in your own way?



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28 comments:

  1. orchidlanedecor.comOctober 10, 2011 at 12:45 AM

    An apt post for me, Donna, as I do have a bit of trouble asking sometimes. I'll be inline for your book. As a side note, I hope this doesn't sound odd, but you have fabulous hair!

    Suzy xxx

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  2. SueBeeOctober 10, 2011 at 3:04 AM

    I needed this. I have a fancy Nikon D70 something that I have no clue what to do with it I just keep picking up my little Canon powershot because I don't have to think. I have a friend that is a photographer I have want to ask to help me. I was afraid to bother him. Not anymore! Thank you~
    Oh and you do have fabulous hair!

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  3. FlowerLady LorraineOctober 10, 2011 at 3:49 AM

    I'm afraid to use the manual setting on my Canon PowerShot. I really need to read my book that came with it and experiment. It's just that when I'm ready to take pictures I want to go out and just start shooting.

    I agree with the first two ladies, your hair is gorgeous.

    FlowerLady

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  4. SImple and Serene LivingOctober 10, 2011 at 3:51 AM

    Asking for help is one of the hardest things for us to do. You have to pack up your ego and allow others to enter in. The results are always worth it. It is something I have really been practicing lately. What we ask for is what we get. So happy you were able to take in all that great information.
    Laura

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  5. Jessica @ FourGenerationsOneRoofOctober 10, 2011 at 4:30 AM

    Cool story! Thanks for sharing :)

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  6. BethOctober 10, 2011 at 4:45 AM

    Most times I don't ask for help because I don't want to bother someone or don't know who to ask, it's not so much a matter of pride in my case. I do get a sense of pride when I can figure these things out for myself, but it's not a driving force for me. LOL!

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  7. Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage DesignsOctober 10, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    You are so cute Donna!!

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  8. LauraOctober 10, 2011 at 5:02 AM

    Great point, Donna! Pride goeth before... Yep. Every time. :)

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  9. Amy ChalmersOctober 10, 2011 at 6:23 AM

    I have read my manual and done all kinds of experimentation...but it feels like greek to me, and I can't seem to get what to do. Write the book~~hurry up!!

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  10. JoaniOctober 10, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Point on as usual. Thank you for sharing. Have a great week.

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  11. carolynOctober 10, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    "I tend to want to wallow and not 'bother' anyone if I don't know how to do something."

    You just summed me up in a nutshell. I really need to push through and ask for help for things I don't understand. It's not so much out of pride, but rather insecurity. I will also be in line for your book on photography. I'm getting better, but I still have a LOT to learn.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  12. Mary @ Redo 101October 10, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    I read somewhere years ago that an intelligent person is one who asks questions - so yay for you!

    Mary @ Redo 101

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  13. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM

    Hope you had a nice relaxing evening with your son. I can't wait to read your book! Thanks for taking time to share with us, your lessons learned!

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  14. UnknownOctober 10, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    It's so true...we have to be open to receive help or we won't...great point...thanks for the reminder.

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  15. Jennifer BewerseOctober 10, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    I felt the *exact same way* about the auto v. manual settings on my camera until about a week and a half ago. Since I'm doing 31 Days of Better Home Photos, I was reading up on cameras and read this...

    "If you're going to shoot on automatic, don't waste your money on a DSLR."
    Since I recently bought my first DSLR and had only hung out on auto, it kind of stung...

    I've taken it as a challenge, and it has felt SO GOOD to master some of the controls on the camera though! I'm excited for you!

    If you want to read a little about those controls in non-greek, I tried to make it as clear as possible in my 31 Days posts :)
    http://www.insideways.com/search/label/31%20Days

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  16. LynOctober 10, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Donna,
    What the heck is Steven making? I can't figure it out and it's bugging me.

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  17. Funky Junk InteriorsOctober 10, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Lyn, I'll reveal more when you see the photos. In a nutshell, he's creating a dinosaur head. :)

    Donna

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  18. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    you do have good hair!

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  19. Rosemary@villabarnesOctober 10, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    Actually, I don't mind asking questions. People will either help, or they won't. I'm too curious to let pride get in the way. I am very careful about who I ask though.

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  20. Desiree @ The 36th AVENUEOctober 10, 2011 at 4:15 PM

    Donna,

    You are such an inspiration. I was finishing my son's bedroom and hanging a license plate on his wall when your Christmas Tree and all the amazing creations you do with "junk" came into my mind.

    ...I thought I am going to stop for a minute and let her know how incredibly talented she is.

    I just want to thank you for sharing YOU with us! Now I better go… I think my minute is UP! ;)

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  21. ShannonOctober 10, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Oh man girl! I just went to manual this past week...after talking with Gina who happens to be my star in Crafting With The Stars. Unreal the difference this has made in our photos! Especially in the evening when there is no natural light!!! Cub-razay!!!! I'm so glad you "found" someone to teach you!
    xo,
    Shannon

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  22. EricaOctober 10, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    I'm loving your 31 day series! I have a couple to catch up on, but you have given me hope that I can take good pictures with just my point and shoot.

    Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Check it out here http://threeoclockwinds.blogspot.com/2011/10/versatile-blogger-award-and-my-picks.html

    Erica

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  23. UnknownOctober 10, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    I have SUCH a hard time asking for help. I will power through & do things not as well just to be able to say I did it myself or that I figured it out myself. It's so bad I know & it's really hard to break. I get really upset & feel down when I have to ask for help. I'm currently working on just asking my husband for help more, but even that is hard. Today I asked him for a back massage because I'm mega-sore from running the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. Baby steps...

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  24. ElsieOctober 10, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Donna I just had to reset mine at my grandson's birthday party. The light was low in the bowing alley so I had to set my camera on manual. I need to use it more often. Thanks for sharing the info.

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  25. Laura at Ms. Smartie PantsOctober 10, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Hurray! The same thing happened to me today at work with a computer issue! It's great when people are at their best and want to share what they know!

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  26. Cindi @ Rustique ArtOctober 10, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    you know when you're sitting in church and it feels like the pastor wrote his message just for you...almost like a spotlight is shining down on you? Yeah, that what just happened here. I will dig, dig, dig before I ask. I need a "Pride intervention"! Oh, but I forgot to mention that part of my digging is digging through your blog and a few others looking for answers...is that the same thing? ")

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  27. JennyOctober 11, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    I've never had problems asking why, how, what do I do? LOL I think I was born that way & never out grew it. My 18 yr old son asks me why do always need to know why!?

    To me, there are so many exciting things to learn & never enough time to figure them out, especially on my own. You're right too, most people love to share their knowledge & it actually builds them up to know someone else is interested in learning from them. So never be afraid to ask.

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  28. WhyCuzICanOctober 12, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    What a neat post, Donna :)

    I don't "know" much, but what I do know I TEACH.

    I was raised to embrace my family motto: What you don't know: Learn, what you DO know: Teach.
    (Thanks Dad!)

    He is probably the most interesting man I know, truly. Never afraid to learn something for the SAKE of knowledge. Not because he wanted to become an expert, he just wanted to know. I'll never forget him coming up to one day when I was about 12 and asking if I wanted to go down to the beach with him that weekend (I lived with Mom). I asked "Why, what's going on there?" he said, "Oh, I have decided I want to learn to hang glide so I have a friend willing to teach me, so I'm gonna do it...wanna watch?!" Me: "I didn't know you wanted to learn that!" Him: "Me either until yesterday, sounds like fun."

    That's my Dad!

    And he is a giver too. What he does know, he'll teach anyone who wants to listen. Wished I'd listened more as a kid- I'd be a well rounded in alot of ways. But, I didn't.

    As an adult, though, I "got" it. Bingo! If I wanted to learn more about cultural anthropology, by golly there was a community college in our town- just sign up and pay tuition. Was I after a degree? Nope, just wanted to learn different things.

    GO FORTH AND LEARN ALL THAT INTERESTS YOU, AND TEACH WHATEVER ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO LEARN.

    God Bless,
    Suzanne in NW Illinois, USA

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