story: a guest post by caitlin

I love a good story. And I believe that artists (specifically, photographers) can learn so much from them.

There’s always a beginning. The first page sets the scene, if you will. There’s an introduction, always, to the character or characters on which the story is to be focused. There are also, inevitably, details. Without details, the reader would be entirely lost while reading the story.  Following the details, there is a plot, and a scene. Something is happening, and the reader is drawn into the lives and characters that fill the story and make it vibrant and alive. Emotion is threaded through the tale, weaving its way through lives, events, and words. It complicates and enriches life, and like the details, it is entirely necessary to the story.

Maybe stories have a whole lot more to do with photography than you might first think. The premise of a photograph telling a story is absolutely central to me as an artist. I desire and strive to tell a story with every click of the shutter. Sure, when your subject is a budding peony, you might have to get a little creative with that story, but trust me friend, it is there. Everything and everyone has a story, and as a photographer, I am to tell that well.

Take a little time as you take your next photographs to think first. Ask yourself questions about the story of whoever and whatever you are photographing. Weave their story into your art, and keep it in mind as you create that art. Because truly, the difference is in the details of every story.

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Hey, I'm Caitlin. I'm a natural light photographer. I desire to live authentic, full, and beautiful life, day in and day out. People who are on this same journey inspire me, and their stories (actually, any good story) fascinate me. I love life, but I have my joy because of Jesus... He is my everything. I'm a passionate person, and my friends and family are a huge part of my life and my heart. I make lots of lists, am always up for a good movie, drink lots of Starbucks, and love anything that smells like vanilla. My life is full of music, and leading worship is one of the experiences in life I treasure most. And, perhaps what ties this all together: I love words. I write daily, and love stringing together sentences that describe my heart, my thoughts, + my life, and that is where my blog comes in. xo