It’s close to seven years now since I became seriously involved with photography. Prior to that, I had a love/hate relationship with it mostly because all the words like “shutter speed” and “aperture” felt like technical jargon that just didn’t make sense to me. And mind you, I am an engineer, too—technical jargon is my cup of tea. But back in 2015 when I picked up my camera to learn the “art of taking pictures,” I didn’t realize how much emphasis was going to be placed on the gear, the flash, the equipment, and the settings. It made me think I didn’t have it in me to become a pro. And I’m not alone. As photographers and as artists, we often cycle through feelings imposter syndrome, burnout, or creative slumps. Which is why, in 2020, my colleague Ebony Logins and I launched the Call Me Artist online retreat, a space for making all photographers feel like they belong no matter where they are in their journey, and offering a collaborative and educational space structured to empower photographers and help them connect with other photographers. This year’s 3-day event takes place from Sept. 23-25.

Seveal years before Call Me Artist was founded, though, I worked a day job of 50 hours a week as an engineer and whatever time and energy I had left in me at the end of the day, I wanted to pick up a hobby that made me feel lighter and relaxed. I just didn’t love the technical aspects. I played with film cameras back in the day a bit and then somewhere my spark vanished. My firstborn helped me to find that spark again, but I didn’t want anyone to dictate how my art should look or should be. I started to ponder the question, “Is photography a form of art?” If it’s not, then what am I creating? Am I creating a piece of artwork to be hung? A piece of artwork with my hands? I wanted to create art. I wanted my photographs to feel like art. I wanted to come home at the end of a busy working day, pick up my camera and feel that spark. I wanted to see the world differently with my lens than without.

[Read: What Makes Fine-Art Photography Stand Out]

Photographs help us tell stories, they help us express ourselves, the sell products and brands, and they are often displayed in art galleries for people to view and admire. Yet, many of us go through this imposter syndrome feeling like we don’t belong to this “elite art club” and find it hard to call ourselves artists. I still struggle to call myself an artist from time to time but lately, I have embraced the term “photographic artist” because it contains the medium I use to showcase my art—I feel it’s a category that should be embraced by many, including social media.

The upcoming Call Me Artist online retreat is designed to bring fellow creatives together to share ideas, get critiques on image sets, learn from fellow instructors, and get feedback and collaborate on projects as they continue to grow in their journey. The retreat takes place September 23-25, 2022 and instructors include myself and Ebony Logins as well as Crystal Whiteaker (of Crystal Lily Creative), Meg Loeks, Katrin Eismann, Nana Frimpong Oduro, Kellie Bieser, Angela Douglas Ramsey, and many more. Register for the Call Me Artist retreat here; review the schedule of classes and topics available here.

[Read: Traditional Portrait Photography Rules and How to Break Them]

Jyo Bhamidipati (Jyo) is an electrical engineer as well as an award-winning published fine art & lifestyle photographer plus a mentor/educator based in Sacramento, California. Recently, she spoke during her sold out class at WPPI 2022 on Befriending Harsh Light. She is a lover of light and shadows and seeks to capture the everyday perfectly imperfect beauty around her. She strives to be experimental in her vision and constantly works on pushing the boundaries in her photography. Jyo is also the instructor of the highly popular workshop with Click Photo School called The Imperfectionist, where she encourages everyone to embrace imperfections in their everyday lives and practice creative artistry! She’s currently represented by Institute Artist and is also the co-founder of Call Me Artist Retreat.