Custom Photography- My Story

I remember taking my daughter to get Christmas pictures when she was two. I won't name names, but the studio sounded something close to Niddie Nandids :) Just days before she had fallen and gashed her cheek! It was only about an inch long, but was still really red and not too appealing. I didn't have weeks to wait so I took her in thinking, they'll just turn the other cheek ;) I remember every time we went I specifically had to ask "Please no cheesy backdrops, just the plain ones!" Yep, I didn't want the fake woodland scene or winter scape. Back to the story we went and they took about 10 shots. The photographer was about 16/17 years old and didn't give a crap whether or not my daughter glaring cheek faced here nor there. In every image you could she the gash. Out of the 10 images only about 5 were even usable, and you guessed it THEY DON'T REMOVE CUTS ON CHEEKS. Well now to order prints (my old favorite) if you get a 5X7 sheet it has to be the same image for both. So really by the time you were done you walked away with one or two images, unedited (unless you want a quick grayscale change, what I like to call muddy black and white), with prints that were printed off on the back printer.
Yep, that was when I started begging for a camera for Christmas. I had no intention on being a professional photographer, I just wanted some REAL pictures of my kiddos. It took another year and a half before I got my first DSLR camera. I started taking pictures of the kids and messing around in photoshop (I had acquired it to do digital scrap booking). Well I was shocked when friends started asking how much I would charge to do their kids' pics too! Wow, I could actually make money doing something I enjoyed? Who knew ;) I had taken some film photography classes in high school, but the digital arena was new to me. I READ blogs, and PRACTICED my brains out. I had two models always at my disposal :) My first key information that really stuck with me was read over at MCP's blog. An other photographer had been interviewed and asked what they thought was really important about finding yourself as a photographer..... the answer "Find your niche and stick with it!" Well I am a pretty out going person and I love color :) I've never been the girl who prefers black as my main stay clothing choice :) I decided to go for a bold, contrast, and color in my images. Did I say that and then poof my images were just what I wanted? Once again, heck no! It takes time to find your style. Don't rush it :) Not to mention I'm always evolving and tweaking just a bit!
Now here's something that may shock a lot of stay at home Mom's who think I'm going to go buy a camera and become a photographer too! I am a firm believer in TALENTS. I actually have never thought of myself as a very talented person. I always think there's room for improvement with me, and I'm definitely my own worst critic. Now don't get me wrong I live in Utah where most people say, "Hey I can do that myself and save me some MOOLA!" I would be an extreme hypocrite, wouldn't I, if I said you couldn't do it. HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE I started the business because I fell in LOVE! I didn't want to put my camera down, and I would spend hours enhancing my images. I wore out a computer, well that is too nice a word, I KILLED IT! I still love it! I absolutely, positively LOVE what I do :) I love every single aspect of it. I love taking the picture (aligning my ISO, Aperture, and shutter speed for the perfect shot), I love meeting new clients!, and I love taking each picture home to CREATE! That said, it's a lot of work! I can't imagine it's for everyone either. I know some AMAZINGLY TALENTED people. Are they all photographers, heck no! They do however do things that I can't do, or just have no desire to try myself :) I am so grateful to do something I love so much! I find it rewarding in every way possible. Just remember, everyone is different, that is what makes life so great! I can't do math, I have to add on my fingers. I can not sew a lick, my husband has to sew on buttons for me (don't tell a soul)! I can't sing, and I am not a world class athlete. To be really honest I am actually not very photogenic either! I am okay with all of that though, I am who I am. Don't beat yourself up if you don't become a photographer. I would be in serious trouble if I hated myself for not being able to make my own clothes! I would have to run around nude for sure ;) Something the whole world definitely doesn't want to see!

But I do like to pay if forward :) I am going to start giving you some mini tips to make even your snap shots better :) There are little things that can make any image a little better, even without all the software and glam. So if you care come check by some times and get some tips! If not if you look at it and say, "Hey I like what you do, but I don't want to try it myself, " just book a session and leave all the work to me ;D

Thanks for stopping by :) I hope you at least enjoyed a glimpse at some before and after images!