I thought it might be a fun little thing to share how I got into this whole photography thing. I get asked that question quite often and never REALLY have time to think on a response, so here’s my best shot 😉

I guess you could say photographs have always been a part of my life. Growing up my dad use to entertain us with old films like from when he lived in Africa. There was also endless amounts of containers filled with boxes of kodak photographs. We often looked through the photos to call back on fun times, remember faces, reminisce “the good ole days,” visit a face who passed on and more. I never once entertained the thought of calling photography a career. It was just fun to take photos of anything and everything. 

Somewhere between processing film at our local store and the movement of digital coming in, I got ahold of a few cameras and brought them with me almost anywhere I went.

Fast forward a few years and a few dollars spent and a dozen rolls developed, I find myself a freshman in high school. A couple of my friends had spent the night at my home and we awoke the following morning in the midst of summer time, not old enough to drive and not a lot to do. 

Somehow, the idea of, “hey let’s get dressed up and take photos outside! It will be fun!” arose…so of course we jumped on board. 

At the time I had a little kodak point and shoot, and oh boy that camera got its use.

We ventured all over the land behind my house. To the creek, to the field, to the pasture, to the broken down vehicles, to the antiques, to the this and to the that. 

Now, be aware, this became a WEEKLY occasion. If we were “hanging out,” there would be dressing up to do and there would be photos. Every. Time. 

Eventually, I started taking a particular liking to being behind the camera and processing the photos after the sessions and don’t even get me started on how excited I was to share them with my good friends on, wait for it….MySpace. (#glorydays anyone?!)

There was just a good feeling about taking a photo, processing it and hearing that people loved what you had captured!

Soon these friendly shoots, turned into me wanting to photograph anything and everything. I began entertaining my past time looking up other photographer’s, admiring their work and dreaming of a day where people might hire me to produce timeless images for them. But, I would probably never make it there…

As I look at the photographs I have taken over the years, the talented people who have poured their wise knowledge into me, and I sit back to take it all in…I just simply smile. 

If you would’ve told me six years ago that people, not just any people, my friends, families, seniors, brides, past teachers, and people I don’t even know would be pouring into my inbox dying to book sessions with me…I would’ve laughed in your face and told you otherwise. 

I sit back and truly, truly smile at what I’m able to provide you all with. It’s so much more than clicking a button, applying a preset, or removing a blemish. It’s the excitement of graduating high school, the anticipation of walking down that aisle, the last warm hug you received from a loved one past, the sweet touch of your grandmother, the laughs and tickles of childhood…my goodness I could go on for days.

What an HONOR to do this fun gift I feel I’ve been blessed with.

I hope I never lose sight of where I’ve come, the places I’m going, the people I’ve met, and the moments my lens has frozen. 

So, here we are today. I’ve been taking photos for almost seven years, I have a big girl business, I’ve got the best clients around, and the rest they say, is history…