Who would ever have predicted that me and public speaking would work? Getting up in front of people and talking, really. I can’t believe how easy I find it.
Me and Public Speaking
This is something that in recent years I’ve started realising I can do. If you asked me 10 years ago to do a presentation to a room full of strangers there is no way I would have been able to do it. Getting up in front of people and talking can be terrifying. All eyes on you.
What changed so that I can do it now? No idea.
I suspect it was the teaching I did a few years ago. The classes were small, but I had to stand up in front of them and teach them how to take photos.
About 2 years ago I was asked to do a small presentation at a club and it was really good to see how I would go. I have also done speeches and it hasn’t been an issue. In the past I’ve seen people just get up in front of others and feel relaxed about it. No idea how they could do it without being so nervous.
I have to say I don’t get nervous either. If anything makes me nervous it is more about me not being absolutely sure about what I’m talking about. However, last night, I have a great time.
Knox Photographic Society
Late last year I was approached by the club and asked if I would be interested in doing a presentation on Fine Art Photography for them. They also wanted it on long exposure as well. Of course, I said yes.
This last week I had been preparing what I would talk about. Though I have done this sort of presentation before, so I had some things from those. However, with this one they wanted me to be there for about 90 minutes. That was a bit scary. What was I going to talk about? Really it meant I could add extra stuff to my talk. That was good.
For something different I also took the gear I would normally take with me when I am going out to do some long exposure photography. We finished the talk by going through my gear. What I use and why. The Formatt Hitech filters were talked about a lot. As was my new tripod, Winston, by 3 Legged Thing.
How was I with the public speaking?
It was really surprising when I was driving there when to realise I wasn’t nervous at all. I was feeling very relaxed. I enjoy talking about long exposure photography, and fine art even more. The way everything was set up was great and there were lots of visuals. I always think they are very important.
There were a few minor hiccups. Technology will always do that. I just laughed through it. You have to do that.
I tend not to talk about myself a lot. There has to be some element of it, as people want to know about me, but I always feel these sorts of things are a way for me to educate and I try to do that. They are also a good opportunity to inspire people. That is something I really enjoy doing.
Top Discussion
There was a big discussion about mirrorless cameras. They seem to be a hot topic at the moment. I was asked quite a few questions about the Fujifilm camera and lenses I took to New Zealand. People wanted to know if I am going to go mirrorless, and which system will I choose.
Someone asked if I would consider the Nikon mirrorless, I had to say no. Their system is new, and it isn’t something I am really interested in.
At this stage Fujifilm is definitely the one for me. I just don’t know how I am going to get one. I’m still reluctant to sell what I have. I have too many bits and pieces. One option is to wait and save up a bit and maybe just buy the camera and one lens for long exposure and go from there. So it might be a year or two before it happens.
Photos
At the end of the talk, I showed them some images from my Quiet City series. I am including some here, though these were not necessarily the ones they saw.
I had such a lovely time at Knox Photographic Society last night and would like to thank them for inviting me to come and talk to them.
Thank you for this post Leanne, I have a presentation to do next week, this is what I needed to read!
How did it go Natasha? I hope the post helped you.
Not as bad as I had expected, surprisingly! I actually enjoyed it?! And I feel more confident because I didn’t back out, and instead faced my fears. Thanks for checking in on me and for your great post once again.
That is fantastic Natasha. How amazing does it feel after you have done it. You’re welcome, glad I was able to help.
Thanks so much Leanne, it really did make me grow and think about the invisible boundaries I place on myself. 🙂
That is fantastic. I think it is a freeing feeling when you realise you can do it.
Leanne, I love your long-exposure photography and would like to learn your process. Do you have a book I can purchase or details somewhere on-line? I also use Fujifilm cameras, although, they are older mirrorless models (XT-1 and X Pro-1).
Thank you, I love doing long exposure photography. I don’t have a book or anything for my processing. I teach how to do long exposure photography, but not how I process the images. I wish I was a Fujifilm photographer, but alas I shoot with a Nikon. I would like to make the change eventually. They are great cameras. Thank you.
I made a nice living with Nikon cameras for more than 30 years. I tried Panasonic and Sony before settling on Fujifilm. The only downside is their limited selection of lenses.
Yeah, that can be a downside, but I hope it is short term, and that as more people turn to mirrorless more will become available. It would be nice to see Tamron and Sigma making lenses for them as well.
Good for you to enjoy speaking before groups. I so enjoy those opportunities.
Thank you, I have to admit I really enjoyed it as well.
Well done. I bet it was excellent.
Thank you, I really hope so. I felt good about it.
As a number of people have said, the first thing is to know what you are talking about, which you obviously do. I don’t know how long I have been following you as the list goes back only to when you changed the site, but it’s certainly more than 5 years and it has been interesting to me to observe how your confidence has grown and your unique style has developed.
Oddly enough, I find it easier to talk to several hundred people in a hall than to a handful across a table.
I hope I know what I’m talking about, lol. I am passionate about and I hope that helps too. I have been blogging for a very long time, almost 10 tens years. Thank you so much, it is good to hear that you have noticed that I have changed and hopefully grown over the years.
I find I can both now, which is very handy, thank you so much Grumpytyke.
Yes, knowing your subject is key, but also practice. Public speaking, teaching, photography – all skills that can be learned and honed. Good on you!
I don’t know about the practice, I hope that I am getting better at it. Thank you.
Good subject well illustrated Leanna 🙂
Thank you so much.
Leanne, I’m so glad you enjoy doing presentations. Just remember that at the end, you can talk about your classes and other things you do. You can also have a table with flyers and brochures. This is especially true if you were talking for free. If they were paying you, they may not allow it. Sorry, this is the marketing person coming back to haunt me! I coached people on how to sell their business through speaking engagements.
Thank you Anne, Thankfully I didn’t have to say anything about my classes as the people there talked about it. I don’t have flyers, but I did leave some business cards. Self marketing is not something I am good at, lol
I don’t know if I will be doing that much more public speaking, can’t imagine it.
I think your talk at the Balwyn Men’s Probus Club was one of your first and thoroughly enjoyable and informative.
PS: Love these images, Leanne – your style is truely unique. Thanks!
It was Don, it was the first one I did like that, and it gave me the confidence to do more. I will always be thankful to you for that opportunity.
Thank you Don, I do love hearing that people think I have distinctive style.
I think it was easy for you because you know your topic well!! Congrats!
Thank you Nora, I think you are right, I was loving it.
nice share
Thank you.