My six year old just learned to ride her bike without training wheels. She was dying to take them off and finally be able to ride around the block like a big girl. 

I imagined there would be a lot of falls and double the amount of drama, but I was pleasantly surprised. She got on the bike, set her feet on the pedals, and just went. One of the many times she attempted to find her balance, she turned her head to me and said, “I think I can do this, Mom.”

Now, I have to tell you, this girl looks so much like me she could be my mini twin. Except when it comes to trying new things. Where she is always confident and brave, I am mostly apprehensive and fearful. 

Because who wouldn’t be scared of something new and unknown? Like riding a bike or, say, trying to shoot film for the first time? Who wouldn’t jump in with both feet into something so exciting?

It took me a long, long time to finally decide to use an analog camera and try to shoot some film. I had never used one except a few disposable Kodaks when I was in high school and a cheap point and shoot when I went off to college. Years later, I started my photography adventure with a very good digital camera, so the thought of using a film camera never crossed my mind. Ever.

Until I decided it was time to take my photography training wheels off and give it a go. In the beginning, unlike my daughter, I lacked the confidence to believe I could do this. I faltered every time I thought about using the camera, looking for all sort of excuses not to try it. I struggled to put the roll of film in, I struggled to rewind it. I struggled to measure light, to find interesting subjects and compositions, to focus. It was an agony to finish just one roll.

And then one day, some of the photos I got back from the lab were not that bad. In fact, I liked quite a few. I wanted more!

I want to say I always knew I could do this but it wouldn’t be true. At least, not in the way my daughter was so certain she could ride her bike. I also learned we all have different styles of learning and different attitudes towards our goals.

What scares you about trying something different in photography? What are YOUR training wheels?