Never Stop Learning, growing, improving!

“Unless you do something beyond what you’ve already mastered, you will never grow.”
– Ronald E. Osborne

In 2007, I got my first digital camera and a “how to” book. I read about ISO, aperture, DOF, what all the different modes on my camera meant, and how to use them. Photography for me was just a hobby, something I enjoyed doing and wanted to get better at. I didn’t even want to photograph people, just things I liked. It wasn’t until a few friends and family members asked me to take some pictures that I thought, “maybe I could be a real photographer one day?” I was only 16 at the time, and honestly, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I just knew that I wanted to marry my boyfriend at the time [and I did :p] I started researching on photography blogs, found a few I loved to follow, I joined forums, asked questions, posted my work to be critiqued (talk about SCARY!). And started my business and shooting families and babies in 2010. I was never really happy with my photography, but then again – we are our own worst critics! I just figured I wasn’t passionate about photography so I took a short break, and in that time I reached out and learned more than I ever thought I could learn! I started shooting weddings with some other wonderful ladies in the industry and found my passion again. There was SO much to learn all over again just for weddings! I was ready and excited to learn, I shot my first wedding in 2009, for basically nothing, and only improved from there. I have gone through many shooting styles, and quite a few editing styles, before I found my “me” style. Even now, I still am researching, growing, learning, and I feel like there is so much more for my photographer brain to absorb in this industry! Photography has been slow for me this year because I decided to put it on the back burner so I could focus on health, homeschooling, & our amazing newly planted church. I’m starting to really miss it and I think I am ready to pick back up again! 🙂 Although, my schedule says otherwise :p I decided to take a look at how far I have come and do some comparisons. So here ya go! Just remember, you are NEVER too smart to learn, too skilled to learn, or too wise to learn. I am still super proud of ALL of my sessions I’ve done, regardless of where I was in my journey. Each session, each wedding, has made me the photographer I am today, and has helped me find my path to being “me”.

Stay humble & kind, ya’ll!