Follow your Dreams, your Passion, your Heart

I have long been encouraged by my friends to pursue photography as a means of earning some extra income, and until now I thought they were just being kind. On Tuesday December 8, 2009 I was introduced to the Gray community as a local artist/photographer. It was the first public display of my photographs. I had no idea what to expect, was at times excited, worried, anxious and even scared. What if I invested all this time, energy and money into this and nobody showed up? I would never know until I tried and then I wouldn't always wonder IF!

Tuesday evening turned out to be the night some other events were taking place. Events I had no way of knowing about until people started to e-mail me and let me know. Only slightly daunted, I forged on with my plans. Monday I watched the weather forecast which informed me that Tuesday evening was going to be a frigid, wet and stormy night. Tuesday morning I loaded up my photos and took them to Power's Coffee Express in Gray, where the showing was to be held. I wanted to get set up early so that I wouldn't be trying to carry things into the shop in the storms. It turned out to be very good that I did, by that night it was pouring down rain the wind was blowing a steady 30 MPH with gusts up to 54. The temperature had dropped into the high 30's and I just knew that not a soul would venture out in this. I knew I wouldn't.

But they did, and the show was a success and I learned many lessons that night. I learned that planning and hard work do pay off. I learned that the Lord has blessed me with wonderful and supportive friends. (I keep having to relearn that one. I get complacent and forget). I learned to continue having a positive attitude and forging on, even when things seem to all go wrong. But the best lesson I learned is to follow your heart and your dreams.

Here are some pictures of the show and I must admit I'm still amazed that people were out in that weather looking at my photographs.

Rick and his wife Zella; without their support, encouragement and help I could have never done this. Rick taught me to follow your dreams with passion. Thank you Rick and Zella.

Donna, my biggest fan. It was Donna who first suggested I should sell my photos, and pushed me until I did. Thank you Donna for your friendship and unwavering belief in me.

My first sale, an 16 X 20 framed print of the James Oliver Cabin in Cades Cove, Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. And so it begins........

Did I really draw a crowd?

As you can see;

Follow your Dreams, your Passion, your Heart and they really Do Come True!

Thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas,

Laura