It’s amazing how God will use you if you just ask.
As a photojournalist, I’m blessed with the opportunity to tell stories with my camera everyday. No matter what I’m documenting – a family in their home, a wedding day, an Elevation Church worship experience – I find great joy and value in bringing people’s experiences to life visually.
Looking back on my journey as a photojournalist, Love Week 2013 stands out as one of the most pivotal times of growth and direction for me both personally and professionally.
Last Love Week, I was part of a team tasked with gathering images & stories to share on social media on behalf of Elevation Church. With 600 events happening and 9,000 volunteers serving our city over the course of 9 days, I felt intimidated by the assignment set before us. As someone who is usually expected to blend in and be stealthy while doing my job, I was being asked to not only capture striking images, but to approach people, gather their stories and share them with the world.
I remember sitting in my car, frozen in fear, on the first day of Love Week 2013 as countless questions and doubts swirled in my head.
What if people don’t want to share their stories with me? What if I’m not good enough to document all that God is doing in our city and through our Church?
That morning, hunched over the steering wheel in my 4-Runner, I prayed a prayer that forever changed the way I approach my calling as a photojournalist. I asked God to let my camera lenses be HIS eyes. I asked him to put me in the right places at the right times to capture the stories HE wanted people to see and hear. I asked him to take my talent and multiply it so he could get all the glory.
The fear melted away and I gained courage as I felt the Lord guide me that day and all throughout the week. Whether it was the flutter in my heart prompting me to talk to a stranger, the desire to put down my camera and play with a child or the perfect opportunity to capture a striking moment, I knew God had anointed me to tell His stories. I still feel that anointing to this day every time I pick up my camera.
As we anticipate all that God will do during Love Week 2014, I’m beyond excited to document it. With the Lord’s guidance, there’s no limit to the images we’ll capture and the stories we’ll tell.
