Before I jump into things, I really just have to say that brushing your teeth in the shower is probably THE most satisfying experience…ever.  If you’ve never done it, drop everything and go now.  Your teeth will feel the most clean they ever have.  Now.  Go.

Ok, so now that you’ve done that and feel the most refreshed you’ve ever felt in your life, let’s move on and talk about something completely unrelated.

If you happen to follow this little blog of mine…and by follow what I mean is, you read the thing that I post on here once every six months, then you should know three very important things about me:

#1.  I love to work out regularly, about once every two weeks.

#2.  Grammar is my strong suit.  All those periods are CORRECTLY USED……Trust me.

#3.  I have a passion for photography that surpasses my passion for Superman…um, what?

Yes.  Photography.  I love it.  In fact!…I may or may not have majored in it.  Some people think this is crazy.  “Art majors make no money, it’s hard, you have to market yourself, you have to know how to do good business.” Yes, yes, we’ve heard it all, and we do it anyway…why?  Because we can’t imagine doing anything else for a living and being remotely happy about it.

So that’s where I’m at.  I graduated this past May and it feels like time has already flown by, time that I’ve spent NOT doing what I majored in.  Ch’yeah…not taking photographs.   But that’s ok, because honestly, I felt like I needed the break.  33 hours a week IN JUST CLASS, 18 units, and countless hours on top of that working on art assignments and photo assignments January through May will burn a person out, no matter how creative he or she may be.

After school I felt like the creativity had been sucked out of me.  Assignment after assignment of fast paced, cram to come up with a concept, gather all your props and PEOPLE, photograph, edit, and have ready for presentation within ten days, over and over and over and over again over the course 4.5 months killed me.  It melted my brain so hard core to the point of me accidentally locking myself in a bathroom with a man while he was in the middle of pooping….oh…you haven’t heard that story?

I needed a break.  And taking one was kind of hard…People down right expect you to MOVE and hit the ground sprinting like a zombie after a human when you graduate college.  Questions like “What are you doing now?  What are your plans?  Have you taken any photographs?  How ‘bout this week?  Why don’t you set up a photo shoot?  Have you gotten a job?  How’s the planning coming?” Pop up again and again and again.  I was even walking through Target minding my own business one day and a two year old stopped and asked me why I hadn’t been taking pictures….people just KNOW when you’ve graduated.  The pressure is on and frankly, it’s really just not helpful.

I needed to breathe and just….not do photography for a little while.  And even when I wasn’t doing photography, I was.  I took like 7 million photographs throughout the course of my vacation and I enjoyed doing it, but at the same time, I passed my camera off to my dad or mom A LOT and said “Here, you do it for a little while.  PLEASE!”

During the time period between graduation and now, I wasn’t worried.  I knew what was going on, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt what I am most passionate about, what I love, and what I dream about for my future, and photography is one of those things.  It just took a while…Last month I started feeling it again though.  I walked around the house aimlessly CRAVING to do something creative, anything.  I even resorted to: wrapping twine around a beer bottle…don’t judge me, it’s cute.  I colored in coloring pages, and I made a metal pumpkin.  But it wasn’t satisfying, and that’s when I knew it was time.

I started to create a logo, and it took a few days to get things how I wanted them…I had to feel super happy with it before I decided I was finished because #1, I need to brand myself, and #2, I don’t want to look back at it in a month and have the same feeling as I do when I think about the fact that I used to wear digital cammo pants…..I haven’t mentioned that I used to be a tomboy?…Oops.

Anyway, I got the logo done, but I still wasn’t being satisfied in the creativity department, I can’t even explain the feeling…like this deep longing inside me coming from my gut to create something.  So I did.  I texted some friends and asked to take their portraits, and you know what?  It was great.  I felt a little awkward at first, trying to get the hang of things again, but It wasn’t anything new; I just had to feel it.

So that’s where I’m at….I’m starting new.  I’ve had a Facebook page for my photography for almost three years now, and today I deleted almost entirely everything from it.  I want to start over.  I want to create a cohesive style, put my mark on something that people will see and be almost 100% sure that It’s my work.  I want to stand out, and I plan on doing so.  I’m GOOD at what I do! And some people may think it’s conceited or cocky for me to say so, but I don’t care.  I’m good, and the more I do what I love the better at it I’ll get.  I’m going after this thing with a vengeance.  I am going to make a living off of what I love.

Right now, my Facebook page is vulnerable and kind of naked, so when you look at it try to think adorable baby, not nudist beach, ok?  Hang in there with me because soon it’s going to be a lot more busy.

Here’s the link to it! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Candace-Mann-Photography/163478633687664

ALSO! Here is my graphic.  The beginning of my “brand.”  And here’s three reasons why you shouldn’t be too critical of this…

1. I’m not a graphic design major.  I have never taken a graphic design class.  I didn’t use Illustrator.
2. I’m not a graphic design major.  I have never taken a graphic design class.  I didn’t use Illustrator.
3. I’m not a graphic design major.  I have never taken a graphic design class.  I didn’t use Illustrator.

Now, here’s some pictures of the two stunning and lovely girls who were willing to let me photograph them last week.  These are just previews, more images are coming…and if you like these…and by like I mean you don’t want to gag when you see them, then go to my Facebook page…..and like them!  So crazy and so simple, right?  I may be a genius.  If you don’t like them, that’s cool too.

So that’s all.  I just wanted to share what’s been going on.  Usually these posts are full of complete and utter incoherent shenanigans, and more often than not, they will continue to be.  But I felt like tonight I needed to change it up.  I’m straight up excited.  Bye.