"Learn the basics and break the rules"

As I continue to grow and evolve as a photographer, one of my many joys is taking as many classes as my life and time allow.  Tonight's class was about the basics of studio lighting and narrated by a well known photographer I truly admire. One of his sayings tonight that I connected with was "learn the basics and break the rules." While he was talking about lighting rules and studio light set ups, this really hit home as I struggled with my lighting this last weekend after finding out the previous day that my studio had been broken into and my expensive studio soft-box lights were stolen. I was ready to break ........... something, but not the basic rules of life.

I thank my dear friends and mentors Heather Slater of Heather Slater's Photography in Dixon, KY, and Shelley Potter from Shell's Photography Studio in Fairbanks, AK as well as  many, many others.......... for walking me through my sadness and helping me to come up with a solution that would make most photographers shutter with horror but allowed me to keep my appointment and shoot some beautiful newborn images. (See Eli's pictures under sneak peeks)

While 'learning the basics" is something we are taught as children (such as: please, thank you and may I), learning how to properly "break the rules" is something that is not usually taught.  So when I talk about breaking the rules here, I am not talking about hurting people, telling lies about them, stealing from them, or getting revenge or getting even.  I am talking about how to take what life just threw at me and creating an opportunity for myself, but never at someone expense.

Just as I am "learning the basics" of lighting from mentors and extremely talented photography teachers, I am also learning how to  "break the rules" properly.

What basics in your life can you productively break the rules with this week and come out on the other side with your head held high and feel great about what you have accomplished?  I would love to hear from you!