Besides being in love with photography & my camera at an early age, like many other photographers I fell in love with it all over again capturing my own children.
I didn't really set out to be a "professional photographer", it found me.
I don't want to go into that, for another time.
Let me start by first stating, that to say I am a "professional photographer" has taken quite some time and didn't come without lessons learned the hard way. Oh, at first I thought I was a photographer, but definitely a pro I was not. The realization came to me in 2009, when I attended a large photography conference. I heard fabulous pro's speak & tell their story, share their talent and was blown away.
I was a little fish in the giant ocean! Wow, I was ready to go home & crawl under a rock. I learned those few days that being a photographer isn't flipping a switch to "auto" or even "program" modes. I learned new words like "soft focus", finding the light, depth of field, manual mode, proper exposure, and the list goes on. Soft focus, btw is not something you want to be told about your work unless it is intentional,lol!
I put my camera up for little bit and then got it back down, if those people could do it so could I! With the help & encouragement of an amazing new friend and fellow professional photographer I switched my camera to "M" or manual & promised I wouldn't take it off. I poured over books, practiced on my kids, my dog, my neighbors, family, landscape, you name it. I started to see differences, but still not where I wanted to be. Finally, I realized that I needed more education to help. In the past few years, I have spent many hours (and lots money!) attending workshops all across the country to learn. It has been amazing and hard work all at same time! I had to be away from my family, which was very hard!
There is so much more to the story, but I don't want to bore you with it..
In learning to be a "professional photographer" I also had to learn business aspects, it isn't just about taking photos. I get inquiries all time about pricing, how I do things, etc. There are photographer's on every corner just like hair dressers, doctor's, restaurants. Referrals are great, but just because someone has numerous fb likes or friends or a photo gets lots comments doesn't make you photographer.
When you are looking for a photographer, really look at their quality of work! It isn't about being "affordable" or cheap! The saying is really true, you get what you pay for- With facebook & internet it is easy to compare. And it amazes me how many people think they are "professional photographer's" because they bought a camera, setup a website or fb page & decided to start a business.
I am sharing a few photos from my early days when I thought I was a photographer and some from recently. I thought it would be more helpful to use the same subject in all, my daughter Maddie. They are all edited/processed the same way. The first two were taken with camera on program mode and are soft in focus besides using an external flash. The last two were taken in manual mode, using natural light, & sharp in focus.
You be the judge-
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