A STORY OF HOW IT ALL BEGAN
An avocation I did for enjoyment swiftly turned into a flourishing business in just under a year. I quickly learned the tricks and gimmicks of a camera and the process of editing photos. Photography started to come second hand to me and before I knew it, the avocation I did was a business. I have had many interests, but only turned one into something more, photography, which has allowed my creativity to be expressed through photos to capture others life stories.
Just two years ago I dabbled with something new, photography. It started off as me wanting to just mess around with a camera. I would pull it out at family events such as birthdays, holidays, or vacations. I did not expect this to be anything more than just an interest. I was completely wrong. Around the fall of 2017, I took senior pictures for my friend. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing but knew enough to feel comfortable with taking them. I was surprised with how well they turned out. I edited them and returned them and he was just as pleased with them. I took a few months off and did not get back into photography until the end of April in 2018. My mother wanted updated pictures of my three sisters families. Once I had taken and edited their photos, I decided to make an Instagram page for people to see the work I was creating. This was the start of it all. From that moment on, I grew. Not just as a photographer, but as a person too. By the end of 2018, I had created a website to display my work and my business really began. With the help of a professional photographer who also happened to be my teacher, I was able to create a hobby and completely transform it into a business.
I have so much more to learn. I am young and still a beginner. When I first started out, I knew absolutely nothing about what I was doing. Yet, here I am today. I have a business that I created by myself, with some guidance along the way. Everyday, I find myself learning a new trick with my camera or learning how to edit wiser. Small things that in the end, benefit me so much more than I think they will. I continue to grow and flourish because this is something I am passionate about. I have learned an endless amount of things that have given me my wings to fly in this field. I traveled to New York City in the fall of 2018. I met up with a photographer while in New York who taught me some tricks and toured me the city. This workshop improved my work immensely. I also have been blessed with having a professional photographer be my mentor along this journey. Let us fast forward to today. I have my own, self-made business at the age of 17. Juggling my business, sports, academics, and extra curricular activities has taught me how to compartmentalize and prioritize all the hats I am wearing. Things can be stressful at times, but I am putting my trust in God and letting this business guide me and take me to new beginnings.
Over the past two years, I have learned to take what is in front of you and run with it. I chose photography and ran with it. Look at where I am now. It is important to take risks and put yourself out there. I am forever grateful I made the decision to make that Instagram page because I would not be where I am today. What started off as an interest turned into a talent, which turned into a hobby, which turned into a business and has turned into something I am very passionate about.
