My Photography Journey

Like I mentioned above, photography has just always been part of my life growing up, and while I didn’t have my “A-HA!” moment until after college. I’m so grateful I found what I love and what I’m passionate about. The one thing I wish I could go back and tell myself would be this: HAVE PATIENCE with yourself. Stop comparing your beginning to someone’s middle (or what feels like a beautiful and established business). I wanted BEAUTIFUL, heartwarming images RIGHT AWAY and would get so frustrated with myself when I would read blogs or see images online of what I WANTED so badly for my images to be, and would get so frustrated that mine didn’t look like that. I wish I would have tuned out the “trends” and just tried to learn, shoot and edit to what I loved.

As a self-taught photog, I truly was totally winging it. “Trial and Error” was pretty much the backbone of the beginning of my business. I was SO lucky to have incredible friends that not only asked me to shoot portraits for their family, but paid me (I cringe about it now) to do it. They valued me and my time (and what felt like a lack of talent!). But how grateful I am for the opportunities given to me in the beginning. I didn’t take a SINGLE business class in college. Ha, I just used Turbo Tax when it came to doing my taxes, and I had no idea what “Business Insurance” was. But I was ON FIRE and truly had a hustle attitude. I was DETERMINED to make this new passion turn into a profitable business. I Googled, Youtubed, joined Facebook groups, and shadowed other photographers. I held bags, worked for free, and basically engulfed myself in all things PHOTOGRAPHY!

I love being a photographer as much today as I did the very first year in my business. While my business looks different now than it did back then (thank heavens), it’s still something I am SO EFFING PROUD OF!!! I built this. I took a passion and turned it into a business. I built something from the ground up. I pushed myself to find answers when I felt stuck. I worked two jobs, while also being a mom. I sacrificed sleep to make sure I was hitting deadlines both for my full-time job and the clients I loved dearly. I have missed out on anniversaries, birthdays and countless date nights/girls night outs…but I wouldn’t change it for the world. My children have seen their mom go after her dreams. My children have seen the sacrifice life calls for sometimes. My children have seen me create something for myself and see (hopefully) all the extras we can give them with the income I bring to the table. While I have so many accomplishments I am proud of, these are the ones that mean the most.

So with that being said….2020 is OUR YEAR! This is the year I bring all my knowledge full circle and help YOU! Maybe you don’t want to start a photo business (that’s totally ok!!) but you want better images of your kids, your nieces or nephews, your dogs, your food for your blog….whatever it is, I want to help!! I want to be the person you DM because you can’t seem to get your settings right or find the answer you are looking for in google. Or maybe you are a visual learner and just need someone to show you or walk you through things…I got you boo boo. I’m here for it and I’m here for YOU!