How To Recharge Your Batteries

If you shoot your camera long enough you will exhaust the batteries and need to recharge before you can use them again.  No one things twice about the recharging process of your camera batteries or buying new batteries because it is something we've become accustom to.  However, when it comes to our own internal battery which helps keep us fresh and creative we take it for granted.  To be your best photographer you need to also recharge your internal battery to be your best.  Without taking time to give back to yourself you will only exhaust yourself and your photography will suffer.  It is important that you take time to recharge, unplug and do something just for you.  Now the only question is who does a photographer recharge their internal battery?

After six trips in five weeks I was badly in need of recharging. My body, soul and mind were exhausted and I needed a break from business, email, social media, phone calls, planes, etc. The last five weeks have taken me to New York, South Carolina, Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Trinidad.  In between I flew back to Los Angeles for a day or two and then left again.  I was lucky to end my hectic schedule with a shoot in Trinidad, or so I thought, but that trip was the most grueling of them all as Trinidad was in the midst of the rainy season.  The rain caused delays in our shooting schedule and made for very long days and nights.  I am very thankful for the work and would gladly do it again but I now need to recharge.

I arrived home two days before Thanksgiving totally spend and mentally exhausted.  Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends but my family is 3000 miles away and my girls family is even further away in Japan.  We decided to take advantage of the four day holiday and do something I have always wanted to do.  We took a photo road trip to Monument Valley in Utah.  After so much travel you may wonder why I wanted to do more traveling but the two things I love most in life is photography and travel.  Traveling for work and traveling for yourself are two very different things all together, so we loaded up the jeep and set off for Utah.

It is hard to tell where one first gets desire to visit a place, but I have had a deep desire to visit Monument Valley for a very long time.  Maybe it comes from growing up watching the Road Runner cartoons or simply from seeing incredible images from this area of the country, but whatever the case I have felt the need to photography Monument Valley and I am so glad I finally got a change to do so this weekend.   I have even dreamed of shooting images here but nothing can compare to seeing this place for yourself.

I can't explain it in words but Monument Valley is one place every photographer should visit.  The drive alone will inspire you and the images will feed your creative soul like nothing else.  When you go, stay at the Views Hotel.  There you will be able to take incredible images from your hotel room and even shoot images of the stars at night.  I will be sharing more images from this trip in the coming days, but the most important message here is to take time for yourself. During the holidays it is especially important that you give yourself to yourself before you give yourself away to the world.  We all know the holidays can be a very stressful time of the year, but this year do something for you.  Give to yourself first!

Happy Holidays!

Always Dream Big