Thursday, January 26, 2012

{The Beginning}


The Beginning { You have to begin somewhere, right? 


I’ve thought about how to start this blog for many days now. Do I jump right in & start posting bout what’s going on in my photography world? Do I give a little history on me and how I got to where I am? Do I tell you why I love photography so much & how important it is to me? How do I make my very first entry interesting enough to make you want to come back???
Truth is I’m not really sure!! I don’t know if you will come back and see me again! But I sure hope that you do. So I guess I’ll get started and just see how many come and see!



I am a mother of 3 beautiful kids! I am also due with another in April 2012 and I know I'm truly blessed! My children are my life! I'm married to my best friend and high school sweetheart, Jon, and we've been married for almost 8 years! I'm going to college online and love that too :) I want to be the best I can be for my children! I'm a daughter, sister, friend, and PHOTOGRAPHER :) 


So there's my short lil tid bit on me :D Now, on to what I've started this blog for. 


Where did I start? What made me decide that I wanted to be “photographer”? I know these are some of the questions I get when I’m talking to someone new about what I do. I can’t really say that it started just a few years ago because if you knew me from back in the day you would know that I’ve always been the one taking pictures of everything and everyone! I have tons and tons of pictures in a box that I took while I was a kid and teenager. Some of which NO ONE EVER gets to see! J Only because I looked a mess J hehehe..Maybe I’ll have to post some of them one day. Maybe!!! So I guess the love of photos has always been inside of me. I don’t have many pictures of me from my early childhood and that is something I wish I had more of. I wish that my mother had been given the chance to get the kind of images taken that I take or that even better photographers take…I’d love to see more images of me as a baby/child..so when I had children I knew that I wanted to be able to take all the photos that I could and keep them for them when they got older.


Then I got my first GOOD camera. Nikon CoolPix L100.  It wasn’t anything too special but it sure did take much better photos than my Kodak camera. It was the best camera I had ever gotten and it was too bad for a digital point and shoot and it was a great start for a non-pro photographer. You should check it out, you never know you might know someone who is looking for a good quality camera and an affordable price. Here is a great un-biased review on it: 
http://topreviews.me/nikon-coolpix-l100-review/

Anyhow, when I got this camera I was using it like crazy. Then I had a great friend of mine, Michelle,  talk about getting family pictures done and because I was going crazy wondering if I had what it takes to be professional I volunteered my services. Yes, for free! It wasn’t about the money for me it was about seeing if I could really be a professional photographer like I wanted. And well they turned out great! I was learning to use Photoshop Lightroom that had been given to me from a friend’s husband who was an extreme hobbyist. I knew enough to have her photos turn out great.

Here are some shots from my very first photo session! Michelle's photos. 








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However, I must admit she never got the photos because my life got too carried away and I didn’t get them to her! ( Eventually I sent them to her on a CD). This was my first sign that I wasn’t ready to be a professional! On the flip side they were great photos and I love them still to this day. I knew I had the talent and passion. I just needed to learn more about how to be a professional. With all this going on that same friend encouraged me to make some ads on craigslist for my work and see what happen. I did and it turned out great. I priced my services at $50 for unlimited amount of photos on a CD. WOW~! Seeing that in written words make me realize how far I have come. I did a shoot of 2 teen boys looking into modeling. This is when I found I really liked modeling photography. Which brings me to where it ALL really began!


I wouldn’t be where I am today without the friend I mentioned above and the friend I’m about to talk about now. These 2 women encouraged me and helped me in many different ways. Dee, was one of the people who contacted me from my ad on CL. I remember our first conversation like it was yesterday. She had asked me if the price was right that I had listed on CL. “Only $50 is what it says, is that correct?” Yes ma’am just so long as you feel that’s fair but if you think that’s too much then I can work with you. J She then tells me, “Do you think your work is worth $50? Do not under quote yourself! If your worth it then stick to it! Be proud of what your worth even if it is low or high for that matter!” I was shocked that this woman was so up front with me!!! Well, that very woman is now one of my best friends and the person who taught me most of what I know about photography. Dee is a photographer as well and might I say she is AMAZING!!! I’m very lucky to call her my friend and someone whose work I admire a lot! On my list of inspiring photographers; you’ll see that list soon!


She asked me to come and shoot with her on a model/fashion shoot. She was doing photos for a previous client and she was bringing a friend! So she thought I’d like to come and take a few shots and then the madness began! I was lucky enough to be taking photos of a down right beautiful school teacher who was obviously meant to model and teach J


Those photos were some of the best photos I’ve ever taken. I still get compliments on them today and I’ll never take them out of my portfolio. They are beautiful and I’m very proud of them. Every shot was something amazing to me. I knew that modeling/fashion photography was going to be great strength for me and that I really enjoyed it. After seeing the pictures on a final touch, post editing and all I couldn’t help but feel like I was finally getting where I needed to be. 

One of my all time favorite sessions. I love her photos. Here is some of Jolene's photos from my first Modeling Session. 












And here are a few I got to capture of Katie (the girl Dee worked with)




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That’s when I got my CAMERA!~ What takes all the great photos today. Dee, helped me choose and get it for a wonderful price and I was completely overjoyed to get it. My Nikon D70! Love it love it love it! My first DSLR! WoW! All these buttons and settings and ways to take photo can blow you away. Well, that’s what books and the net are for; learning all you can! I did just that and now I finally feel confident in whom I am as photographer.


I have passion, talent, know-how, willingness to learn, creativeness, & heart. I think these are the best attributes as a photographer that I have. Do I have more to learn? FOR SURE? Am I the best that I could or want to be? NO WAY! But because I WANT to learn more and because I feel that I SHOULD learn more this makes me even better. I won’t ever stop trying to learn better ways to bring my clients great images and the best services possible. I’ll always keep trying to make them happy and still stay true to me.


I will first and foremost forever be thankful to God himself to letting be able to do what I love so much!


I will forever try to always become better.


I will forever keep my passion for photography in my mind and heart.


I will forever be thankful and grateful to and for all those who have taught me, teach me now, and are willing to be a part of my journey.


I will forever keep bringing all I got to every single photo session and every single detail that it takes to be a professional.


I love what I do and I hope that you love it too J I can’t wait to share more and more on my journey. Thank you so much for stopping by and getting to know me a little better.


I would love to hear your comments or thoughts! Starting out on your journey too? A seasoned pro on yours? Please share your thoughts! That’s what I’ve started this thing for is to learn and hopefully teach someone else!



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