Once upon a time I didn’t want to be a photographer, I know crazy right? Well, let me tell you about how and why I became a photographer. There have been many ups and downs in my photography journey, but I wouldn’t change a thing! All of my mistakes, and indecisiveness brought me right here and I could never have been prepared for how much I love my job!
Let’s go back to the beginning. I didn’t “grow up” in KC, I’m actually from South Florida. I know what you’re thinking “why the heck did you move to Missouri from Florida?!” The short answer is, we moved here when I was 12 because my grandpa needed my Mom’s help, and 2008-2010 had done a number on our family anyways, so off we went! Honestly I didn’t want to live here, I wanted to stay with all my friends and everything I’d ever known. But God had much better plan for me!
Thankfully, once we moved here it wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. Living with my grandpa is the whole reason I ever picked up a camera. My grandfather was a “hobby” photographer, but boy was he talented! He loved taking nature photography, and wanted to show me everything he knew. One of my fondest memories of our first spring her in MO is my grandpa giving me his old Canon film camera, which I still have to this day.
Soon after he gave me that camera I started taking photos of anything and everything that would sit still long enough for me to hit the shutter button. We would go to walmart to develop the film, and there really isn’t anything like getting to finally see how your images turned out! I wanted to take nature photos like my grandpa did, and so for a long time that’s exactly what I did.
As many people may guess, my love for photography only grew as I did. I joined the KC Zoo’s photography club, and by this time my grandpa had bought me my very own DSLR Canon camera and lenses. I was beyond in love with photography! But, as I really entered my teen years, and we moved out of my grandfather’s house, I put my camera away and left it there for far too long. Boys and my first jobs took too much of my time, and photography got pushed to the back burner.
In between my “busy” teen schedule I did break out my camera when I felt so inclined. I brought it with me to concerts, and I even entered a few of those photos into my 4H fair. They ended up going all the way to the State Fair. I had never edited any of my photos to that point though. What is really sad though, is though I loved photography and thought I may want to be a photographer when I “grew up” I never called myself a “Photographer.” I only felt like a girl with a camera, and nothing more.
Fast forward to last year (2022) I decided to bet on myself. I had been wishy washy about my “business” for 6ish years and I finally wanted to dig in. I never imagined I could look at my photos the way I do today. In 6 short months of being a part of a Photography Mastermind I grew in ways I never thought possible!
Today, I call myself a Photographer, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself. The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner. I wish my grandpa was here to see my work. I know he’d be so proud. So, that’s my story. It’s not super long, and I probably forgot some stuff, but that’s me!
