I’m back from Nepal and I’m super excited to tell you more about this trip, my other trips and well … everything!
Matt explained a small part of my journey in last month’s “You Can Do This” blog post. The overwhelming response from that post has shown me that sharing more – not less – of my story is the right thing to do.
There’s so much to tell that it’s hard to know where to start. How do you fit everything into a blog post? Or even 100 blog posts?
I plan to do that over time … but what about squeezing three years into a five minute talk? That was the recent challenge presented to us.
THREE YEARS IN FIVE MINUTES
A month and a bit ago – before I returned to Nepal – we spoke at WPPI … a huge photography conference in Las Vegas.
One of the talks we gave was at Kevin Kubota’s Photographers Ignite.
Ignite presentations are 5 minute talks with 20 slides. The thing is … you don’t control the slides. They change automatically every 15 seconds. It’s up to the speaker to keep up … or else.
It was the “or else” that had me worried.
You see, public speaking is very low on my list of fun things to do. It’s not the speaking part that terrifies me. It’s the forgetting-what-I’m-meant-to-say-in-front-of-1,000-people part that scares me the most.
Some people get a real buzz from being on stage. Not me. I do it because there is always at least one person – sometimes lots of people – in the audience who benefit from hearing my story. Because it’s their story too.
I fight through my fears because I know that my story can help others, not because I enjoy being on stage. Give me bungy jumping or sky-diving any day!
Usually Matt does most of the talking, but as this presentation was about my journey I had to do most it. I couldn’t hide behind Matt this time, but at least he was on stage next to me in case I swallowed my tongue. Or if I tried to make a run for it.
About half way through the evening it was our turn to talk. I was grateful for the bright lights because they meant I couldn’t see all the people in the crowd. Matt started us off and then it was over to me. *gulp!*
The slides changed every 15 seconds and somehow I managed to make it through. I think I did ok. I say “think” because I haven’t watched the video yet. The idea of watching it makes me sick. One day I’ll build up the courage. Maybe.
Most importantly … I survived. I didn’t make a fool of myself in front of all those people. And I didn’t run. I faced my fears again and made it through.
FROM THEN, TO NOW
So, here’s our Photographers Ignite talk. It’s titled, “There’s Gotta Be Something More”.
The talk covers my 3 year journey from collapsing, being bed-ridden, burned out and hating photography … to re-discovering my love of photography through using my camera to help others.
I’ve got lots more to say on this topic but before I do, I thought it would be good to start from the beginning. For a long time I’ve been scared to share my story and show people the real Katie. I’m not scared any more.
If you connected with Matt’s “You Can Do This” post from last month, I think you’ll get a lot out of this video.
Maybe you’re not happy with your photography, or not happy in your job. Maybe you’re asking yourself, “Surely, there’s gotta be something more?”
If that’s you, then this short video may have some answers for you.
Love,
Katie.
