Monday Momtographer l Caitlin

photo credit: Chuck Lamond

This in the 3rd in a series of ‘Monday Momtographer’ interviews I’m hosting this month as I re-release Momtographie Online class into the world.

As I’ve said before, one of the most rewarding pieces of teaching this class online is connecting with other moms who are as passionate about their kids and their life as I am. Today I get to introduce you to one of those moms, Caitlin. I know you’re going to love hearing her perspective shifts in figuring out how photography is as much about learning the technical stuff as it is about having the right mindset. Read on to hear more about her appreciation for being a SAHM and her new found joy for shooting with intention.

Name:

Caitlin Tercha

Camera/Lenses:

Nikon D90, Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8, Tamron 18-200 f/3.5-6.3

Tell us a bit about your kids and your family

We are a family of 5 living in Philadelphia, where both my husband and I were born and raised. I My husband is a flight nurse and works lots of long hours to support our family so that I can stay home with our three kids (ages 6, 3, and just a few days shy of 2). We live a simple life in a rowhome in the city and enjoy spending time together as a family.

Tell us what you love about being a mom

I love being there for every moment my kids’ lives–just watching them grow and change so quickly. Though we’ve definitely made sacrifices for it, I am lucky to be able to stay home with them. Most days are hectic, but through Momtographie, I have come to really appreciate the beauty in the ordinary, everyday moments and love being able to use my photography skills to capture them.

My mother-in-law died very suddenly almost 7 years ago and she was a big believer of making memories and expressing gratitude for life. I try to do both of those things from behind the lens–by capturing those memories and appreciating all of the tiny little details so they’ll never be forgotten. Sometimes I get bogged down in the daily chores and activities associated with raising a family but this course has really helped me to not take this time for granted. It has also served as a great creative outlet for me. It allows for some much-needed “me time” where I feel like I’m learning and growing and tending to my own needs as I develop my passion.

What sparked your interest in photography?

My mom was always crazy about taking tons of pictures of us growing up so I think that rubbed off on me. But it wasn’t until my own kids were born that I really developed a true love of photography. My husband bought me my first DSLR right before our first was born and I’ve been hooked ever since. I went from just enjoying taking snapshots to wanting to learn how to take better pictures to having a burning desire to learn everything I can about the art of photography. I enjoy my role as the memory keeper for our family. Even more than that, I think all of this has sparked an interest to possibly pursue photography professionally some day.

What was your biggest frustration before Momtographie

I’ve taken a few beginner photography courses at a local high school (I even won first place in the school’s photo contest and have a blue ribbon to show for it–LOL!), have read many online tutorials and books, and joined a few Flickr photo groups, but I was never confident in my own shooting ability.

Momtographie has given me the confidence I needed. Prior to the course, I was only shooting in Aperture Priority mode and was using my external flash for every single picture I took indoors. I was often so frustrated because I was either missing a moment if my flash didn’t recycle fast enough, or I’d upload the pics onto my computer to find a lot of them were blurry or out of focus. Now I am happy to report I am shooting in Manual mode (though I’m still practicing) and haven’t used my flash since before class began. That’s huge for me.

I’m also thrilled with the community of women I’ve gotten to know through our Facebook group. We’ve now formed another Facebook group for those of us who are participating in a Project 365 or 52, so we are continuing to learn from one another. I’ve been so inspired by their work.

Were there any ah ha moments for you during the class? What were you able to put to use right away?

There were several but overall, I’d say it really hit home for me when we talked about shooting with intention. I found that I was often just snapping away with the hopes of getting at least one decent picture out of numerous shots. Now I find that I think more about my shot before I even take it. I observe the lighting and think about composition and perspective. I frame the shot in my viewfinder instead of just shooting and waiting until later to edit and crop. I envision in my mind what I want my outcome to be and use the tools I’ve learned to try to make that happen.

There are still times where I don’t want to miss a moment so I just snap away, but in general, I’d say I’m much more purposeful with my shooting. I end up taking less pictures but I’m much happier with the end result.

Do you have a favorite photo you’ve taken since our work together? Tell us about it.

A recent favorite I have is of my daughter Emma on Easter. She wouldn’t wear the hat my mom had bought for her but I was able to convince her to put it on for a quick photo. This shot really captures her personality. I loved the way the sun was shining down through her hat and how I was able to catch a little bit of sun flare. I’ve been practicing a lot trying to shoot in backlight since our class and I think these lighting conditions were very similar.

Where do you hope your photography journey takes you in 2014?

I hope to continue to learn and grow. On a small scale, I’d like to master Manual mode (though I’m shooting in it now, I could still use some more practice). I plan to stick with our Project 52 and look forward to being able to create a photo book of my image from each week for the entire year. On a larger scale, I’d like to pursue the idea of practicing photography in a more professional sense and seeing where it takes me. I’ve taken pictures for friends and even friends of friends before, but I think I’m ready to pursue it a bit more seriously now.

Are you ready to cook up some of your own delicious photos too? My signature 6-week course, Momtographie Online, is officially on sale NOW. Get all the details HERE.