Sometimes the only way to measure you progress is to stop and look back at the journey. I have had time to do that recently and it left me shaking my head in disbelief. Is this real? How did this even happen to me?
I remember learning the art of photography from my father as a young teenager. He had a manual Pentax with a manual focus lens. I had to wind the film with my thumb before each shot and there was no LCD screen for quick previews to correct any mistakes. I still have that camera in my office today as a reminder of both my father and the beginning of my love for photography.
Life then happened as it often does and photography was put on hold for many years but then the digital revolution changed everything. I remember purchasing a Canon Digital Rebel and my creative senses were awakened yet again. I began to photograph any friends and family that would volunteer to sit in front of the camera. From that point forward one little step began to lead to another. Before I realized what was happening, a had my first "L" Canon lens, then a 5D iii AND a 5D iv, and now I've added ProFoto lighting as well. All this growth began with a Canon Rebel, it's truly been an unbelievable journey.
As I look back, I have a hard time remembering where things actually turned the corner. At some point, clients began to call me after seeing photos of their friends. My first wedding suddenly turned into my tenth wedding and so on. The changes were slow and I expect the signs were there but I was too busy to notice. That's why it's important to stop, take a deep breath, and appreciate the beginning of things. At that point you realize this isn't a dream. It didn't happen overnight but it did happen, sometimes so slowly that I didn't even notice. Yes, it is real. Appreciate the journey when things get crazy because you'll only be successful if you work through the struggle.
I made it happen with plenty of help from family and friends. No one gets there alone. What's your dream today and what's the first step in your journey? There's no better time to begin than now because the only question you'll ask in the end is, Why didn't I begin earlier?
Today I want to share a few of my favorite shots from a recent engagement session this summer. This cute couple paired with the location that was truly magical that day. I always recommend an engagement session with my wedding photography. It's a perfect way to work together before your wedding day and it's also a great way to get some great photos for your save the date cards from Basic Invite!
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