I feel a bit as though I am being swept up in a whirlwind... in a good way of course. Not a whirlwind of discord or confusion, but rather one of excitement and anticipation. Actually, I was almost caught up in the former until I recognized a big problem. I realized that my original vision for my photography was slipping away. I took a step back in order to see what it was that I needed to do to get back on track with my dream. The action I needed to take was right in front of my face... it seemed so simple... why hadn't I seen it before? I needed to get back to the basics. I asked myself, "What moved your heart toward photography in the first place? What ignited that passion deep within you?" The answer came as I recalled the journey which brought me to this place and time. This is my story.
One day, about 2 years ago, I was driving down the highway with my husband. I looked up at the sky and was amazed to see the most breathtaking view of the sky that I've ever beheld. The clouds were perfect brushstrokes of pink, light orange, and purple on a backdrop of the deepest blue I've ever seen. The colors just melted into one another so seamlessly. At that moment I realized how many times throughout just one day we are so preoccupied with our lives, and hurrying from point A to point B, that we miss the beautiful art of the true Master Artist. Skyscapes, as I like to call them, are one of a kind art work that our Heavenly Father shares with us everyday. You will never see the same sky twice, so if you miss it... it is lost forever. I turned and expressed this to my husband and he agreed we should spend more time observing the sky and other creation all around us. I remember saying something like, "I wish there was a way for me to capture exactly what I see, and share it with the world."
A few months later we were staying with a friend, as my husband had lost his job, and I was searching the internet for something that I could call a career. I had been out of Corporate America for a year and a half at that point, and knew I didn't want to go back. I was doing very well selling Avon; however, that was not what I saw myself doing for the rest of my life either. I was looking for my passion in life. It was then that I stumbled upon a photography contest. I entered a photo that I had taken of my daughter with my small 8 year old digital camera. Although I did not win, I did receive a lot of wonderful feedback for my photo. I thought, "If I can take pictures this good with this old thing, imagine what I could do with a real camera!" I had a vision of creating unique and original works of art through photography and, at the same time, capturing God's one of a kind skyscapes, and other wondrous creations, in order to bring awareness to the beauty of the world around us. I became very excited at the prospect, but we were jobless, almost homeless, and broke.
I eventually served one more year in Corporate America in order to save money for my pro-grade camera. The day finally came in February 2011 that I was able to buy my dream camera, (Nikon D3000). I took it out of the box, read the manual front to back, while the battery charged, and then hit the road with my husband and daughter to try it out. That camera changed the way I shot photos immediately, and I have been constantly amazed at the versatility and expansion of creativity that I've encountered ever since. Around this time big changes were being made at my corporate job and I realized that I just could not be there anymore. However, the very idea of giving up yet another corporate career left me feeling obligated to immediately find a way to bring in another full time income. After long discussions with my husband, and praying, we agreed that I would be able to quit my job to pursue my photography. In my desperation to contribute to the household, I grasped at the idea of beginning a business as a portraiture photographer. I figured I could bring in an income and work on my art at the same time, and Crystal Campbell Photography was born.
In April 2011 I said goodbye to Corporate America for the last time. Things were going well as I finished by website and Facebook page a month later, and did a few shoots in the meantime. However, as my portraiture business took off, it became apparent that marketing and building the business was consuming all my time, energy, and resources. No art was seeing the light of day. I became very disillusioned, frustrated, and even stagnate in my creative process. I then became very unmotivated, and when we moved back to the McKinney area 3 months ago, I didn't even unpack my camera.
In the past 3 months I have been on a journey to get motivated and to find out, once and for all, what I am supposed to be doing. A few weeks ago my mother and I began attending a women's bible study class. Through the bible study class, my individual bible study, and my prayer life, God has revealed himself to me in a whole new light. He has been answering tough questions that have plagued me for years, and given me much needed reassurance in the path of my life. And he showed me that I had not given everything in my life up to him. So I did the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I let go of the one part of me that I've been holding back from God all these years... my hopes and dreams. I have always feared that if I gave those to God, he would take them away or change them. But unless I did, I could not be in total obedience to him, have a complete faith walk with him, or have true freedom. So one evening I took a deep breath, got down on my knees, and expressed all my hopes and dreams to God and then gave them over to him. And then I said something that I never thought I would say... I asked God to bless my hopes and dreams or, if they were not in his will, to give me new ones. I now trusted him with every part of my life. I have to tell you that I have not regretted it one bit. Not only did God not take away my hopes and dreams, but he made them clearer to me! Yes, that's right... read on to find out how.
In the past 2 weeks I began thinking about my place in photography again. I even unpacked my camera and went on a photo taking adventure around McKinney. I once again started to work on my portraiture business and spent hours putting together collections for my clients. However, it wasn't until last week, when I had a complete emotional breakdown, that I realized I was headed in the wrong direction with my photography. In fact, I had been headed there all along. That is when God prompted me to ask myself the 2 most important questions thus far: "What moved your heart toward photography in the first place? What ignited that passion deep within you?" After much prayer and talking it over with my loving husband I decided to give up the portraiture business and focus on the art of photography. Let me tell you that it was the most awesome and freeing feeling that I have had in a long time. Immediately, creative ideas began flowing through my mind... like a whirlwind. This is the first time that I have told my entire story to anyone.
My hopes and dreams now lie in the path God creates for my life. Unfolding chapter by exciting chapter. My dream as an artistic photographer is to create wonderful works of art through photographs and bring an awareness of the world around us in a "stop and smell the roses" kind of way. I hope to one day have an art gallery.
I have done an entire overhaul on my Facebook page. Please go by and check it out. There is still much to be done, but I'm just gonna enjoy the journey! =)
Thank you for reading "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Artistic Photography by Crystal Campbell
www.facebook.com/crystalcampbellphoto
