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jan 9 | Gather + Grow : Photography for the un-photographer

gather and grow

Coffee, Cake and Chats with people just like you…

Gather and Grow is not about industry professionals trying to tell you how good they are and how far you are away from their brilliance. It’s about everyday people having a go and hanging out with those who have just a little more experience than you.

“Look at what you want to change, gather a few people who believe in it like you do, and start moving forward. It’s important to remember that you don’t always need a destination. Sometimes, you just have to make forward motion. And you absolutely can.” Debby Ryan

Do you have a camera, that you have no idea what to do with?

Do you look at everyone’s instagram feed and wonder how they possible get to brand their vibe with so much beauty?

Do you have a blog and your greatest weakness is finding photos for free?

Do you want to bring a greater level of content to your social media feeds?

This gather and grow is about photography for those who ARE NOT photographers. DSLR Camera’s, Simple Editing Tips, Apps and Settings. Tips, tools and chats with each other to learn and grow together. Bring your camera, computer and lots of questions for each other.

What: Two hours, hanging with new friends, with coffee, cake and lots of chats.

Who: Ten places only.

When: Saturday January 9, 1.30pm | Gather + Grow : Photography for the un-photographer.

Book today to come gather and grow.

$25 per person including coffee and gluten free cake/ slice and free download code for one of Amanda’s E-book Capture 30 days of inspiration.

At The Pond Barista:

10/62 Penguin Rd
Safety Bay WA 6169
To book into this gathering click here today, limited places available.
photography for the un-photo
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Learning to say no.

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I have found in my life it is often easier to just say yes than say no.

As a mother.

As a friend.

As a lover.

As a mentor.

Lately I have been really aware of how often I say yes to something when I know in my season I should have just said no.

Some call it boundaries, some call it protective behaviour, but for me it’s actually so I can say yes to the things I know I am meant to be focussing on this year.

Yes, to exercise.

Yes, to publishing my next book.

Yes, to time focused on my children and the season that is moving so quickly.

Yes, to my friends who engage and want to be part of my life.

Yes.

I cannot say yes to these things, important opportunities, if I don’t say no to that which distracts me.

No to long periods of time on social media.

No to worrying about what people think of me.

No to my toddler, even when a melt down is likely to ensue.

Sometimes we get a little stuck and are unable to see breakthrough in our everyday because we are saying yes to the wrong things.

Then sometimes we say no to the right things and the opportunities pass us by.

What are you saying yes to, that you know in your heart of hearts that you shouldn’t?

Maybe it’s your season like mine to start saying no a little more, so I can say yes to that which should be my priority.

Sincerely,

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The creative narcissist

Narcissism

In my years of mentoring Creative Artists, I have found a really crazy emotional roller coaster that many of them ride.

One minute they are raving narcissists, completely self obsessed, believing that the whole world and every story relates back to them.

The next minute they are overwhelmed with crippling self doubt, unsure whether they will ever be able to produce anything ever again.

Do you ride that kind of emotional roller coaster often?

Narcissism is described as this;

Extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one’s own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterising a personality type.

Self Doubt is described this way;

Lack of confidence in the reliability of one’s own motives, personality, thought, etc.

How do we walk comfortably in the pocket that exists between these two chasms?

I have found, the only true place of peace that can be found in the reality of human experience in the battle between these two evils, is humility.

Humility is described as this;

The quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance.

I am sure you are saying?

Isn’t this definition saying that we should swing over to the crippling self doubt section of the spectrum?

Humility is not about self doubt, telling everyone how bad, crap or awful we are.

Humility is grounding ourselves in such a way that we know ‘what we are good at’, but we place ourselves in a place of service and preference towards others.

There is an old Jewish story that tells us that we should carry a little note in each of our coat pockets everyday. In each pocket there should be a piece of paper. On one of these pieces of paper it should say, “I am but ashes and dust.” In the other pocket, it should say, “For my sake the world was created.”

One of the best ways to stay in this place of humility, is building a great collaborative creative community in your life. The catch ups with these people, need to be just as much about their projects as yours.

Do you spend most conversations talking about yourself?

Do you spend most conversations with people worried about what they are thinking about you?

Do you just stop catching up with people creatively because you don’t want to waste their time full of self doubt?

Humility is not a form of self depreciation.

Humility is someone who knows their worth, who knows what they are good at, but also prefers others.

I read a great article lately about Narcissism and it was really interesting.

Let’s continue to have conversations that help us stay in the middle of the spectrum.

Not extreme narcissists, who are forever the victim, focussed on all the reasons why everyone needs to help them and be in their dramas. Nor extreme crippling self depreciators, who are obsessed with, how bad they are at everything.

Let us be a people of humility.

Creative Artists who know their strengths,

Creative Artists who know their weaknesses,

Those who find the balance between the two and create extravagantly from a place of servitude of others.

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A defining day; my creative gang

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maxi gang one

maxi gang two

harry

My little man Maximus has a little gang.

Sierra, Harrison, Chloe and Maximus.

They climb forts, they dine together on pikelets, carrot sticks and drumsticks, they discuss pertinent topics like helicopters, fire engines and Lightning Mc queen.

Together they are a force to be reckoned with, fighting the badies and finding new adventures to explore.

We all need a gang.

Who is in yours?

Creativity done in collaboration is one of the finest pursuits of life.

Today I walked a foyer full of homemade goods, that women had spent hours, painstakingly creating, hoping someone would catch their eye and buy their wares.

A room full of creative conspirators, wanting to inspire and make goods that can help their family thrive.

I was proud of my creative collaborators today.

They were amazing.

Today marks a very special day for me.

I officially sold my very last paper back copy of my first book Capture 30 days. It is still available in an updated e-book format, but the very last copy is a milestone that cannot go past without celebration.

I remember the very day that those 3,000 copies arrived on a very single, very green young woman’s doorstep. The courier didn’t understand my fear as he dropped them on my doorstep. I wasn’t excited, I sat on my porch with my creative co- conspirators and I flipped out.

What was I going to do with that many books?

I had made an expensive and big mistake.

I had no idea that the day would come, when I would sell my last copy and silently remember.

I remembered my fear, I remembered my excitement, I remembered the 15 year old that wrote a list and on top of that list;

To write and publish a book.

3,000 sales may not ever make the best sellers list but today I’m proud. In 3,000 homes, in bookcases, at the back of cupboards, on bedside tables, sit my thoughts on creativity and inspiration.

I just had a go.

What do you need to just have a go at doing?

Jump in.

Be bold.

Gather your gang.

You never know the day might come when you sell your last copy and that sense of satisfaction that you did what you set out to do, will arrive.

All my love

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My creative capture gang: (who without them this project would have never happened.)

Steve and Elaine Fraser

Kym Basoka: Graphic designer and all round best friend.

Bonnie Machell: Photographer and dearest discusser of all things life.

Penny Webb: Head cheerleader

Sue Gifford: reformatted e-copy.

Sarah Churchill: editor extraordinaire!

Thanks for being my co-conspirators in creative crime.

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Creative Internship 2014

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I am passionate about volunteerism and mentoring. I always have been.

I remember being a young girl in year 5, running into year 1 in my lunch breaks at school and beg to be the teachers helper.

I was a student teacher at my dancing school as a teenager and I have always volunteered in more than one organisation my whole life. In my previous roles in large organisations I have always brought younger creative people alongside me in the projects I have worked on, and consequently have people all over the world who are now working in the creative and event management fields who have been trained in my departments.

I believe I was afforded many opportunities through out my life by being mentored. Some of my greatest lessons have been learnt in this environment. I believe whole heartedly that volunteers make our community thrive and mentoring is such an important facet of career development.

In this season of my career, most of the projects I  lead and am involved in are voluntary ones in the community. Although they are voluntary they are wide reaching. It is amazing place of experience, growth and challenge.

I was discussing 2014 last week with some friends and I was saying how I am unsure how I can commit to all the opportunities next year because I am unable to sustain their growth, without a team of people working with them. In the midst of this discussion a friend suggested I get an intern.

At first, I dismissed this idea, feeling like it was a little pretentious, but as I began to think about it, I became excited, because I am so passionate about mentoring in the creative fields. I already mentor quite a few people and it is just increasing the responsibility of this forum to a formal role.

I considered hiring a PA, one day a week to help me continue in the momentum of these creative endeavors, but am not in a position yet to do this.  (maybe by the end of the year, this internship will result in a job?)

So here it is. 2014 will be the very first year that I am offering a ‘Creative Internship‘.

I have detailed all the job skills, job description and job opportunities that the intern will be exposed to in this Application Form: Creative Internship

All you need to do is download it and print it out, or answer the questions in your own typed document and apply.

Applications close December 31 and interviews will happen first couple of weeks of January and then the internship will begin at the end of January.

The applicant will need to commit to one year of training, mentoring and coaching as a part of the three main opportunities that I lead;

  • Capture: 30 days
  • Kinwomen
  • SPARC (Perth)

I am so looking forward to meeting people who are interested in the same fields as I work in and mostly I am excited to mentor and train the next generation.

Yours Sincerely

Amanda Viviers