LEAP!

Every new year

in lieu of making resolutions,

which in my humble opinion do nothing

but set one up for failure,

I choose a theme word for the year.

Two years ago the theme word was "Simplify."

Last year the word was "Me."

This year my theme word is "LEAP!"...

not to be confused with plain ole "leap."

In this particular instance, the word leap must be in all caps

and paired with the all important exclamation point.

Why LEAP! for 2012?

It came to me last night...

I had yet to choose a theme word for the year until

I had trouble sleeping last night and it came to me...

2012 has such professional, creative, and personal potential 

for me that I need to learn to put my fears aside

and take gigantic LEAPS! of faith

in order to achieve the things I have always dreamed of.

One of the things I have dreamed of 

since I began taking photography seriously,

is to have my work hang in a gallery.

I had the opportunity to try to fulfill that dream

last year, thanks to a friend who was pushing me in that direction,

but I procrastinated, mostly out of fear of failure

(which I may discuss in a later post).

So when the opportunity showed itself again this new year,

I decided to 

LEAP!

despite my fears and reservations.

So, this year I have already visited a gallery,

met with one of the owners,

submitted some images to be printed for my portfolio,

and will be presenting my work to a juried gallery 

next weekend.

Below you can see three of the many images

I am getting printed for my portfolio.

The Bubbles:  Acadia National Park, Maine

A Light At the Window

Tulip

Some of the other things in the works for me this year are:

launching my own website that will pair my

portfolio, client galleries, sale images, and blog 

all into one delicious place!

Working a business plan to increase my work opportunities 

in the arena of sports photography.

Signing on with a very large well known 

stock agency to further market my images.

And that is just for January ;)

It is time to stop letting my insecurities and fears

keep me from achieving my dreams

and start checking off things from my bucket list.

I think I am off to a pretty good start

to the LEAP! year :)

There are many talented people who haven't fulfilled their dreams because they over thought it, or they were too cautious, and were unwilling to make the leap of faith.
~James Cameron