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From the Beginning

Updated: Jul 13, 2022

I guess this is my first blog. I don’t know how to do this, so bare with me as I also navigate this portion of things. But I’d like to share how I got started and some other things like my struggles, goals, hopes and dreams as a photographer. But first, let me start with how I started!!


Let me take you back in time to like 2011.. iPhones were just becoming a thing and my cousin and I dressed up and decided we were going to take pictures in my back yard, on the street that split between our houses, in the rain, we even went as far as going into our neighbors carport to take pictures! We thought we were so cool! Little did I know that in those moments not only would I fall in love with being in front of the camera, but also behind! At the time this was only a phase so it didn’t really turn into anything until about 10 years after the fact because I was extremely invested in my education and sports!


I recall on many occasions where my friends, and even sometimes myself, would scoff at the people who were “modeling” but in reality, I was jealous. I wanted to be them. I held off until after graduation to get into it due to the fear of judgement and backlash I’d receive from my peers. It wasn’t until I was at one of my best friend’s wedding when I met her photographer and we talked about how I wanted to take pictures and try my hand at modeling! So I did. We set up a session and oh my gosh I was NERVOUS. I had never done anything more than those back yard photo shoots and selfie sessions in my bedroom! I didn’t know how to pose, any facials, nothing. My photographer made me feel beyond comfortable before she even brought her camera out. To be honest, it came naturally after I started to get comfortable. I found a groove and stuck with it. I truly shocked myself. From that very first photoshoot with her, I had a newfound confidence that I hadn’t felt in a long time. That being said, I owe Amber Schwartz at Amber Schwartz Photography so much. Amber has undoubtedly become the photographer and person I aspire to be. After that first session with her, we proceeded to do 6 more photo shoots. She is my biggest supporter and one of my closest friends and I couldn’t do any of this without her love and guidance. So Amber if you’re reading this, I love you!!!!


Okay enough of that, let’s get to the other details! So we’ve got that I’ve had some modeling experience and a small bit of photography experience. But how exactly did Piece of Heaven Photos come to be??? It was a very quick moving thing. I was telling my boyfriend that I wanted to start a business. “What kind of business??” He asked. “A photography business would be kinda cool!” I responded. Literally that day we made a trip to Best Buy, looked at cameras, and learned a lot about them! We didn’t buy one that specific day because, well… cameras are EXPENSIVE! December rolled around and boy was my boyfriend giddy and excited for what he had gotten me. Like so giddy he wanted to give it to me weeks beforehand. Not on my watch, we open Christmas presents on Christmas morning and that’s that. Well, come Christmas morning and I now have my very own camera. My first camera. I cried. I was thankful. I was happy. I was scared. I had no clue how to use it. I had to actually put my dreams and passion into place and I knew there was going to be a lot of work I was going to have to do. Not only had I never used a “professional” camera, I had never touched any sort of editing software.


Now what?? I talked the talk but now I had to walk to walk. I created some goals I wanted for myself and my business. Ideas for names, lots of research on settings and how to navigate my camera, how to edit photos, etc.. amidst all that I was still nervous.. I still am. With so many photographers out there that are so, so, so extremely talented and amazing at what they do, where would I fit in? How would I make a name for myself. There was absolutely no way I would or will ever be at their skill level, but all I can do is work my butt off to get there. I will get there.


With that being said, I wanted to share a couple of the resources that I have found the most useful thus far:


  • 26 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting My Photography Business // Part 1 by Lauren Lim

  • The Beginner Photography Podcast: How To Build A Photography Portfolio

  • Photo Genius on YouTube has some great tutorials in formation that has helped with figuring out my camera/settings

 
 
 

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