Comments on: Does It Get Easier?

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 01 May 2014 19:57:07 +0000

Brooke – I stumbled across you and your work on CreativeLive, and I just love your imagination. I find your images inspirational because I aspire to be able to create images that are so surreal and magical, and speak so clearly to a story; however, after watching CreativeLive, and many of your youtube videos, I realize that more inspirational than your work is your attitude. You have such conviction and work with such passion that it just breeds inspiration. Listening to you and reading your thoughts on this blog, the doubts and second-guessing goes away, and is replaced instead with motivation, to try, even if it doesn’t work out.

I am attending the ClickinMoms conference, and am looking forward to hearing you speak then. I can understand the nerves you must have in hosting workshops and speaking at conferences, but you shouldn’t worry. Those who come are there because they are inspired by you, and you have wisdom and thoughts to offer them that they can’t get from anyone else.

By: 8 Photographers Who Really Nail Blogging | Home Design

8 Photographers Who Really Nail Blogging | Home Design — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 05:36:40 +0000

[…] Promoting Passion: Fine art photographer Brooke Shaden is all about encouraging others to follow their creative pursuits. “This blog is my special place,” writes Brooke, “I write here everyday for my own personal joy.” Luckily, Brooke’s joy also includes lots of salient information for photographers, as Brooke asks vulnerable questions like “does it get easier?” […]

By: 8 Photographers Who Blog

8 Photographers Who Blog — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 16:01:06 +0000

By: Tara

Tara — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:26:14 +0000

Oh Brooke, I agree with Robin, please don’t run away from your computer and cry, instead the next time, do what you tell us to do all the time and face our fears! Fear is the mindkiller remember, you taught me that! You are always giving me challenges that I face and I do head on, so I want to challenge you the next time you post a workshop to sit there, just 30 minutes and watch how FAST it books up girl! Because they always do! And if I have the money and means, I would be the first booking. You have changed my life, and so many others, so many that you may not even know about! You gave me the needed PUSH to do what I love, leave behind those that didnt support me, and create a new path for myself! again, thank you! I love you brooke and as always you are in my prayers!

By: Laurie Mire

Laurie Mire — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:08:18 +0000

I want to say “thank you” This marks my seventh years as a working photographer…and I love my job. But I wasn’t being fulfilled..in my heart and soul. That is when I came across one of your youtube videos in December and I was in awe. Your vision is beautiful!!! I raced out and bought your book and have been shooting for me on a regular basis now. This month I was part of a women’s art show and displayed a piece. THANK YOU for your sharing your beautiful, giving spirit 🙂 Hope to meet you one day!!

By: lovelyn

lovelyn — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 22:40:07 +0000

It definitely doesn’t get easier. I was hoping it would, but now I realize that if it were easy it would mean that I probably didn’t care about it enough.

By: Carin

Carin — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 21:33:51 +0000

I’ve struggled and strived all my life to prove I’m worthy of “that exam”… “that job” …”that promotion”…”that training”. Sometimes I’ve hated that struggle I mean really loathed the fact I’ve had to try harder, work harder to prove to others I am actually quite talented. I find writing that a challenge ‘cos it’s hard for me to blow my own trumpet.

Now tho I realize it’s the struggle I enjoyed most. Proving that I have what it takes to do it and do it well. I need a goal I need to strive it’s who I am and how I’m built I guess. So I’m happy it didn’t get easier and I’m sure it still wont! What I know now is I can do it, I will do it and I’ll enjoy doing it.

So glad to read others feel the same, and it’s great to be able to vent these thoughts with like minded folk.

Please don’t stress or cry about posting up a new workshop ‘cos you are so well respected, admired, loved and diligently followed I can’t ever see them not being sold out, with deep sighs of regret from those who missed their chance at a place.

When are you coming to the UK Brooke? I promised you that scissors 🙂

I count numbers to calm me when I’m stressed the higher I go the more stressed I must be but it kinda works……..that’s 20 yrs in finance for ya. Sending smiles ur way x

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 20:51:12 +0000

This is wonderful because it shows that there’s nothing wrong with things not being easy. It just shows that if we expect easy, we’re not putting our heart in it. Thank you Brooke! =-D

By: Tom Newforge

Tom Newforge — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 15:59:20 +0000

I’m on mobile so I can’t directly reply but your very welcome and you really are quite the gifted teacher. You come off as genuine and non authoritative. It feels like your just learning from a friend. That opens people up to learn.
As far as the money goes, ugh. Welcome to my world. I’ve told you before that my yearning to create worlds takes a backseat to photographing the worlds of others. I’m not totally complaining but paying the bills comes first at this early a stage for me. So I sorta know the feeling.
Don’t stress. You filled France in what? A day? Your inspiration is contagious and people want to be a part of that.
Ok gotta run. Hope you smile a lot today and I’m psyched to see you too. It’s coming up sooooo quick:)

By: brookeshaden

brookeshaden — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 15:45:09 +0000

In reply to Tom Newforge.

Tom, I absolutely loved reading every single word you just wrote. I relate so much to your waterfall example. I often fixate on such things and try to find new ways of photographing what I love. I think that is what gives a photographer a certain voice: when they understand what fascinates them and then tries to do it differently each time. Growth and rebirth.

Thank you for being so kind about the workshops. Teaching is part of who I am…though “teaching” doesn’t exactly feel like the right word. Sharing? Gathering people and forcing them to listen? hehe! Either way, you have no idea how much you have lifted me today and you’ve made me feel like a million bucks! I will probably always be stressed about announcing a new workshop, but mostly because of the amount of money that I have to potentially lose if no one signs up 😛 That will always be stressful. But at the same time, I know that whoever signs up, I will be giving them my 1,000% and that will never change. Can’t wait to see you 🙂