'Tis the Season for Gratitude

Photographer:  Tamarah Ellen 

With Thanksgiving bestowed upon us, this is the season we remember our gratitude. We should be doing this all year round, yet this is our big reminder day to set aside time to be grateful. What are we thankful for — family, friends, waking up, our spouse, our partner, our children, our home, our job, our food, our blessings, GOD?  Are you remembering to be thankful to GOD?

Our faith is important, now more than ever, and in this time of faith revival, it becomes even more important. Be thankful for GOD first, your creator, and Jesus Christ, our savior. In this busy world, we should remember to express our gratitude each day, either out loud or in prayer.  I like to start out my run with my gratitude prayers. Sometimes when my mind is full of busy thoughts, I can forget to do this. It is important to start the day with gratitude, so for those of you who have faith, begin your day with gratitude for all the things you are thankful for. Sometimes I do this in my car while driving, going over in my mind my gratitude. This helps during tough times, for it's easy to get caught up in what we don’t have rather than what we do.

Photographer: Tamarah Ellen   |  Actress Dwan Hayes

I am grateful for all of my God given talents and gifts.  God blessed me with an abundance of talent, and I love using my talents. I am blessed with creativity, and I can feel lost when I am not using it. My photography brings me great joy, especially in the studio with my creative lighting.  Keep your gifts and skills sharp even in times when it feels desolate. Those who aren’t as sharp or serious will not stay the course, and those who are serious and the most talented will survive the test of time. Be sharper, more creative, and stay at the top of your game. Thank God for your talents and use them wisely. Use them to bless others who need your services or your inspiration.

               Be the Leader, Not the Follower                                            

I have never been one to follow the crowd or do what others are doing. I like to do what others aren't doing or offering to make my work stand out. I am not a cookie-cutter photographer, but an artist, so had I taken the cookie-cutter path, my work would just blend in. I believe in true art and love being different. I want to change the way people see art by recognizing real art and talent over what’s popular.

Photographer:  Tamarah Ellen

 I am often more inspired by wildlife photographers, like Clint Ralph in South Africa, who photograph Lions, Tigers, elephants, and more. And Chris Fallows in South Africa, who also photographs sharks and other great wildlife there.  Even though I photograph people and horses, my inspiration often comes from things I don’t photograph.

I am inspired by photography from before my time, as well as the 60s, 70s, and 80s. These were times when photography was an art in the studio. This winter, I will use my time in the studio to get even more creative, as well as in the pastures with the woolly horses.

Photographer: Tamarah Ellen  |  Model Stephanie McCulley

Be grateful for your family, and family doesn’t have to be blood.  Many people have no blood family, or their families are broken, but when this happens, God brings you new families. Be grateful for the family He brings you. Friends can be family, too.

Photographer: Tamarah Ellen  |  Model Stephanie McCulley

Winter is just around the corner, and one way to keep the winter blues away is through gratitude and prayer. Keep sharpening your tools during the winter months to keep your creativity alive. I love my studio, and plan to spend more time in it this winter. I have a gift that many others are not using, the one thing photography is all about, which is light. No matter what your skills, talents, art, or work are, if you have a hobby that brings you joy, find a way to keep it alive during the dreary winter. 

I love photographing people in my studio and outdoors, and I especially enjoy photographing horses on beautiful summer days.  I have found, however, that the grey winter can also be creative with the horses, for while the horses' coats get woolly and less sleek, their colors get bolder, making up for the grey backgrounds and barren trees.

Photographer: Tamarah Ellen 

If you are not an artist, find projects around your home to invest time in, to lift your spirits this winter. Paint a room to revive it, clean out or organize your closets, or bring in some fresh flowers to brighten a room.  Fresh, beautiful flowers have always lifted my spirits and can make the smallest of rooms feel glamorous.

I am especially grateful to my Pastor Matt Smith at my church for giving me time yesterday to talk about some ideas I have had.  I am thankful to find this church, and I am enjoying gradually getting to know more and exploring new ideas there. I am grateful for my Live Show, my magazine, and my art of photography. I am thankful for the gift of writing and the freedom to share my wisdom to lift others and encourage people to step into their dreams, regardless of their age or bank account. Where there is faith, God will lead the way!

I am also especially grateful for my boyfriend, David Smith. He is a great example of gratitude and being happy where you currently are. We all tend to focus on where we want to be, forgetting to be grateful with where we are, while we are there.  

 Photographer: Tamarah Ellen 

Remember to be good to people who may not be good to you. The idea, the goal, is to spread love in hopes of changing people, to encourage them to become better, and we do this through leading by example. Be better, become better and you will lead the way to a better world. 

Especially today, people think you have to be in love with those you work with, agree on everything and this is not possible. If you can't work with people you don't agree with on every issue, then you are probably the problem. You don't have to be in love with those you work with, you must respect each other and often you can create great work together. Again, lead by example and be the leader first. Lead with faith and GOD. 

To your own success, rock it!

Tamarah Ellen