Why I picked up my camera. People. Purpose. Passion
What inspired me to pick up my camera and make it my profession?
When I was little I always remember my Uncle Mark taking photos of me and my sisters when we were kids and I always loved how he captured the “moment”. It gave me all the feels but I never thought that I could do more than just point and shoot and hope for the best in my everyday life. I was always the one behind the camera at family functions I even photographed my best friends wedding 12 years ago. Crazy!
Trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up at the ripe age of 46 got me thinking more about what made me happy and would be profitable. Of course, I always had photography in the back of my mind but had no real skills or any belief that I could do more than just take a few fun photos of my grandsons. Really wanting more from my photos, I bought a nice prime lens and took it out for a spin with my oldest grandson who was turning 1 at the time. His photo is my Facebook banner because it is the photo that started it all.
It made my heart so happy to be able to capture a few cute photos of both of my very handsome grandsons and it made me thirst for more. Little did I know putting a few photos on Facebook would turn into my first family asking me to take their family photos over Labor Day weekend in 2016. My very first clients, the Gregory Family, were so sweet and easy to work with but I was crazy nervous! Sweet Molly.
Discovering very quickly that I loved people, their smiles, and their connections with each other drove me to photograph humans not animals or landscapes. People have often asked me if I would consider photographing flowers or landscapes and while I think they are all beautiful, I knew it would bore me and squash my creativity. No, people are most definitely my passion!
The Gregory’s family session only sparked so much more for me and as I worked and put more of my hard work out there, I was asked to do more and more families! Having people believe in me gave me the confidence I needed to build my business from the ground up. Making wise investments, pouring into myself through education and equipment, pushed me forward to gain more clients and put myself out there even when it was really scary. So many families wanted me to photograph them that last year alone I photographed over 70 family sessions along with many other sessions totaling more than 270 sessions last year!
I have learned so much about myself and had a determination I never thought existed in me. Thoughts of failure existed, yes, but the belief of success overcame those fears. Taking a thought like “I could never do that” to “I can do that if I put my mind to it” sent me searching for how I can learn to become a professional photographer, a storyteller through images.
God gave me a desire and passion to learn and build a business that I am so proud of. My family is amazingly supportive and make great models, most of the time! My business now supports our family and gives me the freedom self-employment brings. Anything worth having is worth working for.
I bought at sign for my studio early on that says “She Believed She Could So She Did”. I urge you to find your passion, give yourself a word, a quote to believe in and strive for. Allow yourself to learn and make mistakes. Fight for yourself and what you want to do. Don’t give up, Never give up! EVER. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and supporting me through this journey thus far!
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