On April 21, 2014, my step-sister, Maddy, and I went out in our front yard with the intention of taking some spectacular photographs of each other. I had an iPhone 5s in hand — the best kind of camera we could find at the time. She was wearing a gray and light pink striped dress; I was wearing white pants and an off-the-shoulder white shirt.

We took turns. I photographed her first. She did different poses that looked “model-like”- or at least what we thought to be model-like. After about half an hour, we switched roles and I was in front of the camera. The pictures turned out well, so we headed back inside and I spent the next hour editing them. Maddy and I then looked through them in awe. We thought that these were some of the best pictures ever. Some of them were pretty good, but little did we know that they were actually pretty amateur.

I mean, come on. Look at that picture. There is a house and window in the background, half of Maddy's head is cutoff, and she's staring at a flower as if she has to protect it with her life. What the heck were we doing?

For the love of God, why? You can clearly see not just my house, but also the neighbor's house, a long fence and an Ackerman security sign. Maddy is swallowed up by the background itself!

Despite the not-so-great pictures we took, that day sparked my interest in photography. I fell in love with setting up poses and scenes, as well as capturing candid laughter and smiles.

Photography isn't one-sided; there is the photographer and the model. Half of the enjoyment comes from the interactions we exchange throughout the process. I've formed great bonds and created new friendships all because I've taken some pictures.

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”
-Karl Lagerfeld

I look to this quote as my main inspiration as a photographer. I take photos in order to capture candid moments, silly faces, sweet smiles and memories in the making. I find that holding a camera in my hands gives me a sense of confidence like no other. I have the ability to see the world through a new lens. My horizons expand beyond measure, even though my vision is limited to a small box. It's in my mind that I must visualize my final product in order to properly produce it.

My dedication toward each and every photo I take has allowed me to grow in my skills and learn new tips and techniques from fellow photographers. Perfection isn’t achievable, so that is not my goal. Growth, more than anything, is my main goal each time I do another photoshoot; taking better pictures than the time before is what I strive for to not only please my models, but also myself.

My skills have definitely improved since day one, if I do say so myself. With hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Don't stop doing something you love because the end result doesn't turn out quite how you want it the first time. Practice makes better; I've learned from experience. Keep on trying; never give up on your goals. If one way isn't working out for you, try looking through a different lens.

For anyone in the Atlanta, Georgia area interested in booking a session, please, don't be shy! Follow @capturesbycayla on Instagram or check out capturesbycayla.shutterfly.com; feel free to send me a message! I hope to one day to capture your beautiful smile.