Fearless Photographers Conference

Fearless Photographers Conference

My heart was racing so fast it felt like I had just had a sprint around the block!!!

It was Day one of the Fearless Wedding Photographers Conference in Aachen Germany and I decided not to miss a single talk even though my slot to speak was at 3.30pm near the end of the day and I probably should have been practicing my presentation.

As I sat there listening to these incredible world class photographers speak to 260 of some of the best photographers in Europe and the world I could feel my body reacting to the fear of not being good enough. It rushed through me like a flood. Hot sweaty palms, blood thundering through my ears like red hot drums. All I could see was that enormous stage, speakers dwarfed by their colossal pictures!

Top-South-African-Creative-Family-Portrait-Photographer-Jacki-Bruniquel

Who was I to speak to all these people? What if I forgot my whole speech? What if I stumbled over my words and said UMMMMM too much? What if the audience thought I was talking nonsense?

And then I went home to BREATHE.

I was invited to speak at this international conference for a reason. I belonged there. Everything was just as it was meant to be!

I had to talk myself down. I had to be still. I had to connect with my heart and get out of my head.

The brain plays tricks on us all the time to keep us safe by exaggerating risk. Anxiety is the physical manifestation of fear.

Top-South-African-Creative-Family-Portrait-Photographer-Jacki-Bruniquel

If I had to listen to my inner critic I can assure you I wouldn’t have done most of the most exciting and wonderful things that have happened in my life. My inner critic is a bitch. She loves to tell me how much I suck. She loves to hold me back.

But I know I am so much more than my thoughts so I know that it is so important not to be consumed by the head.

And in the end the talk went well. I felt revitalized by the fact that I overcame my fears and that I got up on the stage despite the nerves, despite the head, despite being all alone. Yip I traveled to Aachen alone and didn’t have a friend to hold my hand or give me a hug before going up there. In the end I congratulated myself for being the first South African wedding photographer to speak at this conference and I met so many absolutely, awesome people some of whom I now call friends and most importantly I had a heart warming response from so many people who resonated with my message. I realised just how brave I can be. I realised I can do alot more if I work on my mind and still the negative self talk crap! It was a life changing experience!

Top-South-African-Creative-Family-Portrait-Photographer-Jacki-Bruniquel

It all starts with breathing, stilling the mind and then putting one foot in front of the other!

That’s all!

Top-South-African-Creative-Family-Portrait-Photographer-Jacki-Bruniquel

What’s holding you back in your photography and life? The inner critic loves to sabotage us into safety. If I can talk to the huge crowd below I promise you you can accomplish so much more than your mind is allowing you to believe!!!

If you’re a photographer and would like to work with me I have two workshops coming up in June with very limited spots available. Send me a DM and I will send you a link to the webpage where you will find all the details.

PS I would like to apologise to the photographer who took the last two black and white images I stupidly forgot to save your details and I now can’t find you on Facebook to credit you! Thanks so much if you’re reading this. The first was taken by the amazing Niki Boon and the last by Dries Renglé

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International photography award – 4 Fearless Award in Round 10

International photography award – 4 Fearless Award in Round 10

Fearless Photographers is an international wedding photography directory that represents photographers who produce wedding photos that wow! I have been so inspired by the absolutely outstanding photography on this site. Some of my wedding photography idols are a part of Fearless Photographers so it really blows me away that every time I have entered the Fearless awards thus far I have received an award. This time I got 4!! Apparently there were thousands of entries and about 650 different photographers who entered from all over the world. I would really like to thank the  couples in these pics as without them I wouldn’t have a job and wouldn’t have been able to make these photos, thanks also to Fearless photographers for always motivating me to think out of the box!

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2 Fearless Awards

2 Fearless Awards

I have never really been one for competitions in fact I have only entered one photography competition in my whole life. This was the Nikon awards which were held last year and even then I didn’t enter a single wedding pic. A while back I stumbled on The Fearless Photographers site and was blown away. This is a group of photographers who are dedicated to seeing beyond “safe” wedding shots and are pushing boundaries in terms of moment capturing, interesting angles an wonderful composition. Every few months they have a competition and the winners are given “Fearless Awards”. I decided to enter. A few days ago they put about 100 images up to public vote on their facebook page, the 10 with the most votes were then given awards along with the other 110 or so that had already been chosen by an independent panel of judges. 3 of my images made it through to this round but didn’t make it to the finals where photographers are given awards. A whole load of you voted and I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for voting for me. It is much appreciated. 2 other images of mine did however make it straight through to the finals which is just such a huge accolade as I am constantly inspired by this site and cannot believe my images are even anywhere near this level of photography. They received over 2000 entries and only 126 images received awards. Sooo happy!!!!

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