Tales of a #BossBabe: Hearts on Fire
Have you ever had the opportunity to work with someone who was living out their soul’s purpose? Someone who is doing work that sets their heart on fire? Do it, and do it often. It just might change your life.
Ever since we were introduced to one another via a photography Facebook community almost two years ago, I have been on a mission to find or create an opportunity to work with Matt Ferris of @mattburn_photography, matt-burn.com. He is undeniably one of the most passionate and talented photographers I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and I knew that an opportunity to work with him would more than likely be life-changing.
Matt and I were both members of the then named “Click Shutter Amazing” Facebook group, a predominately portrait-based photographer group focused on community over competition and helping each other become the best photographers we could be. Well, Matt and I are not the traditional portrait types. In fact, our wheelhouses lie in sports – professional motocross for me and professional combat sports for him. The moment I joined the group, members were like “Ooo sports! You have to talk to Matt Ferris…. Because sports.” While we worked in totally different arenas, we became friends and a support system of each other’s photography endeavors almost immediately. Maybe it’s because we had so little in common with some of the other photographers, or maybe it’s because we had just enough in common with each other, but regardless of the reason, I knew Matt and I were going to build a stellar collaborative friendship.
I was instantly captivated by his imagery due to the passion that radiated from every single photo he posted. In addition to his outstanding sports photography, Matt also creates some jaw-dropping toy photography (@matt.burn) mostly starring characters from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Whether it was sports, portraits, or 6” tall action figures, you can tell that when Matt is behind the lens he is creating work that sets his heart on fire.
BTS of Matt Ferris (@matt.burn) setting up a Darth Vader toy shot
When setting the stage for a toy shoot, Matt Ferris is very creative about how he uses his surroundings in order to produce the vision he has in his head.
251 Likes, 6 Comments - Matt Burn (@matt.burn) on Instagram: "The Dark Side will always test you. ▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️ #starwarsBlackseries #anewhope..."
A couple of weeks ago I finally had the opportunity to shadow, assist, learn from, and partner with Matt for a weekend of photography projects. That experience not only changed my perspective on photography, but also changed my perspective on life. I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump recently. So much of what I’ve worked on has just been going through the motions of producing a technically sound image. Sure the photos have been good enough, albeit a little lackluster, but I wasn’t put on this earth for “good enough”. Luckily, this photography weekend adventure was a great reminder for how important it is, as a creative, to seek out opportunities to be around other like-minded people and create projects together.
BTS of a corporate headshot shoot with @mattburn_photography
As Matt's assistant, I learned that the most valuable quality on a shoot is the ability to proactively predict the needs of the photographer to help the shoot run as smoothly as possible.
We worked on a variety of shoots over the course of the weekend, including this engagement shoot where the weather went from partly cloudy to marble sized hail in the blink of an eye.
Observing Matt as we worked on the various shoots throughout the weekend had me immediately tuned into the energy he exudes when he’s in the middle of anything photography related. Serene, focused, passionate, and inspiring are just some of the ways to describe that “heart on fire”, living out the soul’s purpose kind of passion. He’s poured his heart and soul into learning his craft, as is evident by the magic he creates on a constant basis. As I worked along side him as his assistant, I almost felt like the Grinch on Christmas morning when his heart grew three sizes. Not only did my heart swell with pride watching my friend do what he’s clearly called to do, but also I myself felt rejuvenated in my own creative endeavors as I fed off his contagious energy. The comfort of sharing space and ideas with a photographer I both admire and respect lit a fire in my soul that had been all but dormant in recent years – a part of me that I’ve been missing for quite some time. For the first time in many years, my soul felt truly alive.
From that first introduction, I have been inspired by Matt, his story and his images – utterly captivated by his unrelenting passion for his craft and how immersed in photography he became in a relatively short period of time. He doesn’t wait for opportunities, he goes out and creates them with a simple philosophy he carries with him on every shoot, “have fun and go for it”. He also instilled a very profound lesson in me – that is that we must be conscientious of how we speak about ourselves, both in our internal monologue as well as outwardly to others. A simple change in perspective opened my mind to the fact that I don't always speak with enough confidence about my abilities as a photographer. By bringing this to my attention, my entire mindset shifted. I am constantly working to be a better version of myself, improved from who I was yesterday so that I may live my life in a way that incorporates my own “heart on fire” kind of passion and success I am destined for. But I didn’t realize that in many ways, I was the one holding myself back from my own potential for greatness.
BTS of Matt shooting for NW Fightscene at Battle at the Boat 116. NW Fightscene is just one of the many combat sports clients that Matt works with.
As his digital tech for Battle at the Boat 116, I was able to learn processes that will vastly improve my own workflow at Motocross races. It was also an opportunity to experience my first ever combat sports event.
Even though I was there as his digital tech, Matt also wanted me to experience actually shooting some boxing photos as well. It was a great experience to be a member of the media for an entirely different professional sport. Photo: @freestylephotocross for @mattburn_photography for @nwfightscene
I learned so much about photography and about myself on that weekend in the Pacific Northwest. I think as creatives, we have a tendency to forge our paths individually because there are seemingly so few people who truly understand the journey. And while we crave a sense of community, we also know that with the wrong supporters our creativity and passions can be stifled and even extinguished. By selecting the right support crew, however, we learn that shared creative energy is truly the key to unlocking the magic and discovering our true potential.
Beyond learning from Matt behind the camera, I also stepped outside of my comfort zone and in front of the camera for the first time in a long time. This is a shoot I've wanted to do since purchasing a print of Nicole Brune's "Daddy's Little Princess" years ago at a Star Wars Burlesque show. Matt's combined passion for Star Wars and photography made him the ideal photographer to help bring my creative vision to life.
It was such a gift to spend the weekend working with and learning from the photographer I admire most. I left with a rejuvenated spirit and a newfound joy for the limitless possibilities that photography will allow me to create as well as a renewed sense of self-respect and self-worth. My weekend working with Matt Ferris has inspired me to be an even better version of myself, and for that I will always be grateful. It was a great reminder of the importance of actively seeking out opportunities to be in the company of people who are living out their soul’s purpose. Being in the presence of their contagious energy might be just what you need to set your own heart on fire.