Mentorship: A Powerful Tool
My mentor, Derek von Briesen, wandering the dunes at White Sands National Park, NM.
Today I want to share a personal story about my experience over the last 12 years from novice landscape photographer to today. Though I am certainly not finished growing and learning (is anyone, ever?), the early growth curve in this field tends to be steep and it was highly intimidating for me. There’s so much to grasp, from the technical to the artistic to the plain practical. Gaining both skills and confidence is no small task, but it is something we can all achieve with effort, dedication, and practice.
I began my photography journey in earnest in 2011, and my tale begins with my own broken heart. As the divorced mother of a young daughter, I, like so many parents, was forced to navigate a terrifying path through this country’s legal system. Court-ordered interstate visitation began early, and progressed to longer and longer separations between my daughter and I as she spent time with her father multiple states away. As any parent can imagine, a month-long separation from your child does cruel things to your head, and it was during one of these times that I discovered my solace and my calling.
My daughter and I in 2011, the year I discovered my love of landscape photography.
To help distract myself from her absence, I booked myself in to a landscape photography workshop in Sedona, Arizona. I had dabbled in photography over the years, starting with film photography in college, progressing to portraits of my daughter, and eventually to commissions for other families, but it was all essentially a preamble to the REAL beginning. I chose the Sedona workshop for 3 reasons - I needed it to take place during a specific time period, I’d always wanted to visit Sedona, and I was curious about landscape photography. By a stroke of remarkably good fortune, I landed in a semi-private workshop with a professional photographer who was (both literally and figuratively) straight out of the pages of National Geographic, and he would quickly became hugely instrumental to my growth as an artist.
Over the course of this 3-day workshop, it quickly became apparent that a) I had lost track of my love of nature for much of my adult life, b) I had also lost track of my love for adventure and the outdoors, and c) landscape photography would allow me to reconnect with these parts of myself and also indulge my love of creating. I was blown away with my instructor’s artistic talent and his teaching gift, and I fell head over heels for this genre of photography. Thus began a beautiful, creative, and fulfilling journey that I continue today.
I learned quickly, in part because I dedicated a lot of time to learning and doing. But a huge part of the reason I was able to progress fairly rapidly was because Derek von Briesen, my instructor in that very first workshop, saw potential in me. Via phone (pre-Zoom!), he offered guidance, constructive criticism, and endless encouragement, and he soon came to be my trusted advisor, teacher, and friend. I made multiple trips to Sedona, the Grand Canyon National Park, and White Sands National Park to learn from him in-person. He taught me so much - from how to protect my gear in the field, to the best way to quickly and safely change a lens, to reading histograms, creatively composing my scenes, all kinds of post-processing skills, and ideas for personal projects. He emphasized the importance of becoming published as a photographer, and coached me through the process of identifying local and regional publications that were appropriate matches for the type of work I was creating. My sheer joy when I landed my first cover (Blue Ridge Country) was indescribable, and eventually this path led to my work being published by the esteemed National Geographic. Derek listened to my quiet voice, was generous with his knowledge and moral support, and his confidence in me as an artist gave me confidence in myself. We remain great friends today, but now we trade ideas, suggestions, and information as peers as well as celebrate each other’s successes. I treasure our relationship and feel a deep sense of gratitude to him for all he’s given me.
Below is one of the very first images I took in Sedona as a budding landscape photographer. And below that is one of the most recent. Thanks to Derek and his mentorship (along with the support and encouragement of many others along the way), I have been able to progress significantly from where I started, both in terms of technical skill and also message.
My very first landscape photograph, Sedona, AZ, 2011
A recent image, Acadia National Park, ME, 2022
What is a mentor, anyway?
A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor who provides guidance, support, and feedback to help another person (mentee) grow and develop in their personal or professional life. A mentor shares their wisdom and expertise, helping their mentee navigate challenges, set and achieve goals, and grow in their chosen field.
How can a mentor help you grow as a photographic artist?
Skill Development: A mentor can help photographers to improve their technical skills and develop their style by providing personalized feedback, guidance, and support.
Inspiration and Motivation: Mentors can inspire and motivate photographers by sharing their own experiences and successes, and by providing encouragement and support.
Increased Confidence: Photographers who receive mentorship can develop a greater sense of confidence in their abilities and become more comfortable taking risks and pursuing their creative vision.
Networking Opportunities: Mentors often have connections in the photography industry and can help their mentees to build their own networks and find new opportunities for growth and success.
Career Advice: Mentors can provide valuable advice on navigating the photography industry and can help photographers to set and achieve their career goals.
Not everyone is in a position to go this route, and I think it’s important to note that mentorship is just one option and is certainly not the only path towards significant development. Maintaining your motivation and dedication to improvement and mastery is by far the most critical tool. But for those that might be considering working with a mentor, I have found it to be the “secret sauce.”
If you’re a landscape/nature photographer and you’d like to find out more about potentially working with me to help you develop your own voice and skills, click below to get in touch.
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