Inspiration: You are a Superhero — by Guest Mom Liz Fuller

Since I have become a mother, I have done a lot of soul searching about who I am, what talents I possess, and what I have interest in. I had spent so many years enjoying my career and working long hours, I didn’t have time for hobbies or new interests. This made for a bumpy transition into Housewife Culture after I had my baby. While I am grateful for the scrapbook get-togethers I am invited to, it’s just not something I am good at.

For a long time I worried that I didn’t fit the typical mold of skills my peers seemed to have. Why can’t I cook and why do I loathe it? I get in and out of the kitchen as fast as I can. I can’t be crafty to save my life and I really could not see myself in Cookie Lee jewelry. Mary Kay, no thanks. Tupperware? I get my food containers from Ikea and I don’t send thank you cards like I should, so stamp club would be a waste of time for me. So what does a housewife like me do to grow?

Instead of being sad about it, I decided I would love and respect my friends that enjoyed those things. I would ask them for tips on projects or recipes and enjoy the experts on hand that were willing to share their knowledge.

Letting go of the guilt of having different interests and talents, it gave my soul some room to breathe and took the pressure off of trying to be something I am not. I remembered the joy photography classes gave me in college; it’s one of the few creative outlets I don’t completely suck at. Then I found immediate inspiration from Superhero Designs, by Andrea Scher. She designs jewelry, paints, photographs, is a life coach, and inspiring new mommy. Her Creative Business Guide will change your life.


I read something that changed the way I thought about my shy aspirations to be a photographer. I can’t seem to track down her exact quote (!), but it read something to the effect of:

Don’t be afraid you aren’t good enough. You will never get better if you are too afraid to try. You will have mistakes, but you will also learn from them and cannot get better at taking pictures any other way than doing it.

Those were the words I needed to hear that inspired me to dust off my camera and try, learn, fail, succeed, and smile. I called some friends and took their family pictures for free. Word got out that I wanted free practice and my lack of options for a portfolio was no longer an issue. My confidence and creativity grew leaps and bounds. I eventually got some paid clients and took Superhero advice to ‘charge a little more than I am comfortable with’.

Her website, my supportive friends, and my husband really paved the way for me to experience being a freelance photographer, a dream I had since High School.