I see groups of individuals all the time lately talking about inclusion, so much so that I can’t help but feel like it’s been branded into my gray matter. Happily I’ve had my own events happen that made me feel not only included, but encouraged and supported as well.
Not long ago, I talked about doing my first full on production recording for True Northwest Magazines podcast. Well just recently, I was granted the opportunity to do a photo shoot for one of the individuals that’ll be in the next magazine release, and I was once again feeling nervous and scared as hell. When it comes to doing things with or for True Northwest, I can’t help but feel my stomach drop out. Everything is a first time, and I have so much respect and appreciation for True Northwest, that I don’t want to disappoint them.
The funny thing is that I never felt that way while working for my current employer, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that I’ve never felt like I was of any value or supported for what I had to offer to the company. The exact opposite is true with TNW, as I’ve felt appreciated and supported throughout the first moments of talking with Melissa (the founder and owner of True Northwest Magazine). It’s never been a secret that I want to break free of my under appreciating “big business corporation” current employer, and the only reason I’ve stayed and not yet left is due to my financial status holding me back. Don’t get it twisted, I don’t make any grandiose amount of money, but I make enough that if I did leave I’d be hard pressed to make enough to support my family.
That all being said, let’s get back on topic. So the other weekend I shot for a True Northwest Magazine article that’ll be on Mina Kalyan, the 2023 Miss International America Curvy winner and Life Coach. Mina has an amazing story of encouragement and inner strength, as well as being a beautiful model to shoot for, I can’t wait to read more about what Melissa learned about Mina in the newest edition to come. The three of us spent about 2 hours shooting down at the Everett Waterfront, and it wasn’t but 5 minutes into the shoot that all my nerves and worries melted away. The confidence that came through the eyes and the poses of Mina, combined with the choices of lenses I put on my camera, made for some of the best portrait photos I’ve done to date.
Where I really started to feel so much better, was in the moments between shooting, when I was able to talk with Mina. Like I mentioned she is not only a pageant winner, but a life coach as well. Toward the end of our shoot, I had mentioned that I like to be honest with the people I shoot, and that I hadn’t really done anything like model photography before. Mina was so kind and supportive with her words, encouragingly saying “I never would’ve known. You show great skill in what you do, and even the unedited photos look great”. I will forever remember that moment for the rest of my life.
Which leads me to my point, that I don’t want to do photography, nor did I start to shoot photography to begin with, to make a boat load of money. I started to shoot photography because I felt like I needed to use my camera for more than just making Craft Brewing Review videos. Which lead me to realizing just how much I love creating and sharing my images with people, hearing or even seeing how happy they get when they view them, and ultimately drove me to pursue starting my own business around my photography to see where I can take it. I’ve never felt included or supported by anyone at the Lazy B, not like I have from the people I’ve met along the short journey through my photographic career, and I’ve only been shooting photography for a year and a half now (compared to the 12 years I’ve spent at a company that could care less about me).
Every week I thank you for your support, and for taking the time to read my writings. And every week I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Each one of you that reads, likes, and talks to me about the images I capture will forever hold a place in my heart. So once again, Thank You, and I hope you enjoy the photos that follow.
Have a great rest of the week, and I’ll catch y’all later.
Andrew Hoyle - Grimlock Media
