NICOLLETTE MOLLET | PHOTOGRAPHER

Wowwy whoahwy whoa!

This past month (Feb-beginning of Mar) has been absolutely nuts. I told myself I'd take it easy after graduation, ha.

Within this short amount of time, however, I have further learned of more reasons to say "no" to projects others have proposed to me and reasons why saying "yes" will benefit me in the long run if not right away. I've been shooting constantly whether it be a senior portrait session or a fashion lookbook and have spent countless nights editing, staying up until almost early afternoon then napping until 1 or 2pm–only to go back to editing until daylight the next morning. Some people only think I'm simply pressing a button, and voila! The deed is "done."

...But the aches in my back, the tenseness in my neck and shoulders, the cramps in my hand from editing, and the bruises on my knees from moving heavy equipment around don't measure up to the gratitude I receive from others for the work I've done for them. It may sound as if I'm complaining but the complaints are only temporary. The aftermath is what sticks around forever, and the bruises will soon heal. No biggie!

I do want to stress, though, that it feels so good to feel appreciated. Although I've been working with young individuals trying to make it in their industry of interest, like myself, most of them have found ways to thank me–quite frankly, that's all I ask. Just show your appreciation for the hard work I've done for you, and that my friend, is priceless.

Times are trying, and I believe strongly in creating/building/maintaing friendships in this business, especially being so young. This is only the beginning. We've got to believe in each other. If I believe in you and your business, I'll do whatever it takes to make a dream of yours happen, even if it's just a single photograph. That photograph can go a long way.

Photographs are forever and signify an era, a time period. They are proof/evidence. They can contain beauty. Emotions. A memory. A work of art [within a work of art]. Photographs are important.

Entering my early twenties, I've never thought so much about life and the future until now. Not only that, I've never put as much thought into love, relationships, friendships, knowledge, child development, etc. Life in general. Of course, it only makes sense for me to begin thinking more in depth about these things since it is now that I really begin to plan my life out. I want to add that I always have contemplated these "things" in my head to an extent, always confident that I knew more or less what was right or moral, but never quite so often and so intensely.

Basically folks, I'm about to turn this blog post into a public diary entry.

(I included photography/artwork via tumblr page www.1924.us)

Alyssa Jiosa; http://www.flickr.com/photos/alyssajiosa/with/7986824312/

I was inspired to write this post ever since one of my professor's (I just graduated in December '13) passed out a stapled packet of questions a few months ago. Most of the students glanced at it, but threw it away on their way out the door–you know, since it wasn't for a grade or anything. I personally picked out only fifteen questions to ask and answer for myself on this blog post. Also for you, the reader, to isolate yourself for one moment and ask, then answer for yourself.

Ben Giesbrecht; http://www.flickr.com/photos/benngie/

The questions are pulled from a book called Ever Wonder: Ask Questions and Live into the Answers by Kobi Yamada. There is a quote included in the book:

"Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."

–Rainer Maria Rilke

EVER WONDER = WONDER FOREVER

"The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of the questions you ask yourself. Questions have tremendous power. If you want better answers for your life, ask better questions. Become aware of your own self-talk. Where do you put your attention? Questions are the source of life-enriching change. Your focus creates your reality. Whatever you are experiencing in life is not based on life itself but what you are focusing on. What you focus on increases.

"If you want to change your reality, change your focus. If you want to change your focus, change the questions you ask yourself. Questions control your focus, therefore questions control your own experience of life. Thinking is nothing but the process of asking and answering questions. Instead of asking: 'Why me?' 'Why am I so unhappy?' 'What's wrong with me?' Try asking: 'How can I make this work?' 'How can I make a difference?' 'What am I grateful for?'

"Whatever you ask for, you will get an answer. If you want a great life, ask great questions. Questions should empower you. You should ask a question with genuine expectancy and intention. Good questions are catalysts. They are challenges, inspirations, road maps, hints of something better, calls to action and new beginnings. . . " ". . .Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy and seldom do we exceed our expectations. So get to know yourself, have fun, stretch your boundaries, be inquisitive and live your life on purpose. What are you waiting for?"

–Kobi Yamada

The questions I've chosen to answer:

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM LIFE?

The moment I lay on my death bed, I want to remember my life as a series of accomplishments. I want to know that I have inspired millions of people in positive ways, and have made it apparent to those who I love that I loved them. I want my loved ones to have been 100% confident that I would have traveled to the moon and back for them, only for the sake of love and not for the expectation of something in return. I want to have lived an honest life. I want to remember that I constantly lived life with something new to look forward to.

Photographer unknown.

WHAT DO YOU PACK TO PURSUE A DREAM AND WHAT DO YOU LEAVE BEHIND?

Pack: Persistence, perseverance, humbleness, acceptance of change.

Leave: Pride, fear, hesitance, demanding or unhealthy relationships.

Do not dwell on the past. It is much easier said than done, but what good does it do you if you only think about something that cannot be changed? You must live your life forward, not backward.

WHY BE AFRAID OF SOMETHING YOU WANT?

Oh, sure. There are valid reasons for why someone should be afraid of what they want. Maybe it's too far to reach. But if it doesn't scare you, then what's the point?

IF YOU DON'T THINK HIGHLY OF YOURSELF, WHO WILL?

This is not to be confused with narcissism. The only way someone can reach a goal in life is by knowing they can. It's a mind-set.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR JOURNEY?

My journey is but a timeline embedded in my mind, and I've got the rest of that line ahead of me. Despite a lot of hard work I've already done, I'm at the very start of it.

Sylvain-Emmanuel .P; http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvain-emmanuel_p/

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT IF YOU WERE NOT TAUGHT WHAT TO THINK ABOUT?

This brings me to the thought of religion. Hypothetically speaking, if you were born in a completely different country and were raised to believe a different certain thing, do you think everyone else who does not believe what you believe will be doomed in the after life? Have an open mind. Put yourself in other people's positions. If you must preach, do so without over stepping those boundaries, because you have those boundaries you wouldn't want stepped on as well.

IF YOU GIVE ALL OF YOUR LOVE AWAY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE LEFT?

The love that others give you in return.

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED YOUR MISSION IN LIFE?

Not quite sure yet, only time will tell. So far, one of my main "missions" in life is to inform young women (of mainly in America) (well, and all ages for that matter) that there is no true definition of "beauty." The dictionary says 1. A combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, esp. the sight and/or a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense. Therefore, it is strictly based on opinion, right? Not one person has the exact same opinions as another. For example, models on the runway. They do not set the standard for beauty. It's the whole package; a combination of things. We've all known that one person who became more attractive the more we got to know them, yeah? Be a good person, and you'll be beautiful on the inside AND [yup!] out.

IN ORDER TO FIND YOURSELF, ARE YOU WILLING TO LOSE YOURSELF?

I know that the goals I have in life will not come easily. Nothing worth fighting for comes easily and that I will have to pay my dues. I know I may have to step into audition/interview type of situations and completely humiliate myself. I know that at some point, I may have to stick to eating ramen noodles in my tiny apartment, struggling just to make it by and putting all of my hard work and effort into something with nothing but a print to slide into my portfolio as a result. However, I do know that these are investments.

(Via http://neoretro.tumblr.com/post/74632687702)

DO YOU LET YESTERDAY USE UP TOO MUCH OF TODAY?

Holding on to old baggage, and letting things inhibit you from following your dreams, whatever they may be; career, love, etc. This keeps you from thinking progressively. Instead of worrying about what has happened in the past, think about 1.) what you can do to fix it and move on or 2.) if there is nothing you can do about something that already happened, accept that it can't be changed and move on.

Photographer: Jessica Tremp. http://www.jessicatremp.com/tapad-og-fundid

WHAT IF YOU LOST EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW... AND THEN SOMEHOW GOT THEM BACK?

You would be absolutely grateful, yeah? This particular question reminds me of the movie, I Am Legend (Will Smith). During that moment of loss, would you be wishing you had spent more quality time with close ones? Wishing you had been nicer to strangers?

HOW DO YOU FIND HAPPINESS?

Love and human connection. Sure, most of us strive to be successful in order to survive and provide a means of living for ourselves, but without the love and human connection... I don't think we would feel the need to live anymore. To me, happiness is a zest for life, in a way, but what good is life if you're the only one?

WHAT IF YOU LOOKED FOR THE GOOD IN EVERYONE AND IN EVERY SITUATION?

I believe that having compassion for others is important and can lead to a better and less stressful life. No need to hold grudges, for we all make mistakes and there's nothing more refreshing than having that second chance; to be forgiven. We were all raised in different situations and environments ranging from blissful to tragic. Maybe the person who hurt you was raised in a selfish, abusive home. Show them the opposite and how that's not the way of the world. If they continue to hurt you, maybe your paths aren't meant to stay together, however... they'll continue to learn the hard way every time. My other point to this question is the saying, "There's two sides to every story," and sometimes it's ignorant to stick with just one for biased reasons.

ISN'T EVERY END A NEW BEGINNING?

This leads me to explain how break-ups are a perfect example to answer this question with from my point of view. Instead of going through life, blaming your current relationship problems on past relationship problems, maybe stop and think that it is something deeper and within. It is possible that the heart can mend, and find new love, but that won't happen if you don't allow it to. See every end to a relationship as a learning experience and if it is not meant to be, your next relationship is a brand new chapter where new memories can be made and new lessons can be learned; a new beginning.

Photographer: David Catá. Mi piel es tu piel. 60 x 90 cm. 2012.

WHAT IF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WAS THE BEST OF YOUR LIFE?

I can just sense that my life still has yet to begin and the best is yet to come, regardless of the amazing memories I've already made.

Some questions I've decided to leave unanswered but still wanted to include:

IF YOU THINK LIFE IS HARD, WHAT ARE YOU COMPARING IT TO?

ARE YOU THE TYPE OF PERSON WITH WHOM YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

IS IT TRUE YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT, OR RATHER, DO YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IT BEFORE YOU CAN SEE IT?

DO YOU DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS?

WHAT WOULD YOU ATTEMPT IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL?

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DREAM WITH YOUR EYES OPEN?

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

CAN YOU REALLY LIVE WITHOUT LOVING LIFE, AND CAN YOU LOVE LIFE WITHOUT LIVING LIFE?

WHEN WILL YOU EVER HAVE MORE TIME THAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?

WHAT ARE THE FIVE THINGS YOU VALUE MOST IN LIFE?

IF WHAT'S IN YOUR DREAMS WASN'T ALREADY INSIDE OF YOU, HOW COULD YOU EVEN DREAM IT?

WHAT GOOD HAS WORRYING EVER DONE?

HOW OLD WOULD YOU BE IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW OLD YOU WERE?

WHO ARE "THEY" THAT HOLD SO MUCH POWER OVER OUR LIVES?

IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, HOW COULD YOU BE HAPPIER WITH MORE?

IS IT REALLY ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY?

DO YOU LOVE EVERYBODY YOU LOVE?

HOW DO YOU NURTURE YOUR SOUL?

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?

WILL YOU EVER REALLY KNOW HOW BRAVE YOU TRULY ARE?

WHAT MAKES SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?

Yamada, Kobi. Ever Wonder: Ask Questions and Live into the Answers. Seattle: Compendium, incorporated, 2008. Print.

If you would like to purchase the book, visit: http://www.live-inspired.com/Ever-Wonder-P721