When I was growing up, I would use my parents' camera to take photos of anything and everything. It just made going places more fun. It gave me something to do. If I had a camera in my hands, then I wasn't bored. Taking photos passed the time and I really enjoyed doing it.
Eventually, my dad bought me a camera. It was your basic Kodak camera, but it was the most advanced technology in the world for me. I really started taking photos of everything after that. When that camera started to get outdated, I upgraded to a Canon. It was a basic one that only had the lens that was attached to it. I was really excited, took lots of photos, and started to think that I might want to be a photographer some day.
At some point, I dropped that dream when I doubted it would take me anywhere. I had never known a photographer that made very much money and according to any adult who talks to you about your future, money is what you need to focus on. If the job won't make you very much money, then maybe you should look into something else. That's what I did.
Years later, I started college and for some reason, I decided to pick my camera back up. I took a Smartphone Photography class for fun, not really thinking that I would really do anything with it. It gave me an extra credit, so I thought "Why not?" I started taking pictures here and there, both with my phone and my camera, realizing that I really did enjoy it. It wasn't just a thing to pass the time anymore, it was a real passion. People liked the photos I took, my Smartphone Photography teacher said that I had "an eye for photography," and I got really excited every time I took a good photo. When something makes you that happy, you should do it more often.
There was this photographer that I had been following on Instagram and Facebook for awhile. She was the sister of someone I met on a missions trip a couple years before. She does wedding photography and I'd been in love with her photos from the start. At first, I thought it was just because I was a girl in love with having my own wedding some day, but the more I looked at her photos, the more I realized that I just love the photos. After I realized that, I decided right then that I wanted to be a wedding photographer. Part of the reason I dropped the idea of being a photographer years before was because I didn't think I could ever make a career out of it. Right there in front of me was this amazing photographer who was making a career out of her passion for photography. I loved her photos and I wanted to do that for a living.
As time went on, I realized that my little camera just wasn't good enough anymore. I was more satisfied with the photos I took with my smartphone than I was with the ones I took with that camera. When I went home in the spring, I decided to sell my car and buy myself a new camera. As soon as I started taking photos with that, I knew I was in love. I had found the thing that brought me so much joy. Now, I just needed to get some experience and build up my portfolio. I wanted to just jump ahead and already be successful, but I knew that it didn't work that way for anyone.
As I was looking through that photographer's work, I decided to send her an email to see if she needed any help. I figured I could just tag along, see how she does it, and maybe help her out along the way. She told me that her husband does all of her second shooting, so she didn't need any help at the moment. Then, she mentioned that she was hosting a workshop in May and that I should enter the contest to get a free seat. I never win anything, but I figured I might as well try it.
A couple weeks later, I opened up my Instagram to find my name on her post. I had won the contest and I was going to be going to the workshop that normally costs hundreds of dollars for free. After I stopped screaming, I told everyone about it. I couldn't wait for the workshop. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that I was going to be meeting and learning from my favorite photographer.
When the day finally came, it felt like I was meeting a celebrity. She was just as amazing in person and I learned so much from her. I have never been able to sit still and focus on someone teaching for long periods of time, but I found myself completely engrossed in what she was saying. It was completely interesting to me and it was incredibly helpful. After that day, I knew I had found my passion. Photography is what I was supposed to do with my life.
I went home and instantly started working on building my website, my skills, my portfolio, and so on. A couple of months later and here I am. I have a website with a large portfolio. My skills have already improved. I have had multiple clients and I already have more scheduled in the near future. I will hopefully have opportunities to be a second shooter at weddings soon. There are so many things that have already gotten better in the few short months since I bought my camera.
The point of me telling you my story is to tell you this: don't give up on your dreams.That sounds cheesy and maybe it is a little bit, but I'm serious. I've always loved photography, but I didn't know how much until I gave it a chance. If you're passionate about something and it makes you happy, then go for it. Don't give up on it just because it's hard or because you don't think it'll go anywhere. Give it a chance, because something that you enjoy is worth it. It may not end up being what you want, but you don't know until you try it. Don't give up on your dream, because sometimes your dream becomes your reality.
