people often ask me how I got started. I feel like it’s maybe a typical story… with my basic path being similar to a lot of other photographers. But I’m choosing to share, just the same.
You start taking pictures of friends and perhaps don’t know what you’re doing, just that you ‘like taking pictures.’ And you may get a lucky shot here and there and soon ‘friends of friends’ are asking you to photograph their kids, families, what have you. I can remember back to my very first photography ‘session.’ When I shot a whole roll of film at once. I felt a little guilty, I’ll admit. My Mom would say ‘don’t waste it.’ My friend, Amber, and I were camping at our cabins in Virginia and she posed and I shot. Mullet hair and jean shorts. We were 8 and 9, I think. It was a 110mm with a detachable flash that smoked after each shot. Seems so prehistoric when I think about it. I’m so thankful I know what film is.
16 year old me. circa 1998
Fast forward to high school…now equipped with a 35 mm point and shoot. Friends are still my models for goofy shots during/after school and I still have every single negative from those days. I kept them in my biggest dresser drawer. I became more aware of my need to create things. I loved hanging out with friends and creating ‘scenarios’ to photograph. I became involved with yearbook and the high school newspaper and our journalism teacher, Mrs. Doris Martin, taught me all about the darkroom and developing film and images from scratch. I became the keeper of the darkroom; the ‘darkroom nazi.’
When others used the room to make-out, I ensured that it stay light tight and clean at all times.
A highlight of my junior year was going to journalism camp at UNL and being surrounded by like-minded creatives for the first time.
If only I had had the confidence in myself to pursue anything even remotely creative as a profession….
the closest I came was a job at a photography studio in downtown Beatrice from my junior-senior year, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The man I worked for was uber traditional (fist-on-chin kind of posing), but I learned a lot about client relationships and loyalty and selling.
And on the weekends I had begun scheduling full-fledged ‘sessions’ of friends and acquaintances.
….all for FREE, of course.
my first image shot, developed, and processed all with my own two hands.
the lobby of the studio i worked at in high school.
my oldest friend, Crystal, one of the many times she ‘modeled’ for me. I have always loved the beauty of natural light. photo circa 1997.
Following in my mother’s footsteps (and totally following my boyfriend at the time) I went onto college to get a bachelor’s degree in healthcare.
On the weekends, I discovered hand-coloring, filters [ones you attach to your actual camera…not with computers], and had my own darkroom set up in my aunt and uncles basement. It got a little expensive, so I started to charge my ‘photography clients’ aka college dorm mates for supplies. I also worked as a Unit Secretary at the hospital and started my little side business photographing the nurses kids.
Digital hadn’t really exploded yet back in 2001-ish [not to mention facebook or texting…..GOSH I AM STARTING TO SOUND OLD], so being the best deal in town charging something like $75 for the whole kit and kaboodle, I was a busy girl.
confidence boost No. 1.
Then I moved to Hastings for xray school and worked at a one-hour photo lab. That was sure fun. I got to see ALL. KINDS. of personal images.
After X-ray school, I got my first ‘real job’ working at an orthopedic clinic. I wasn’t photographing much during this time, as I recall… I was a newlywed and just getting comfortable with our 9-5 schedules. But I became bored at work and asked my boss for more responsibility. There wasn’t opportunity for it at the time, sadly.
I felt a void. My life had zero creativity in it. Then a huge wave of baby-fever hit our household which Ryan calmly talked me down from—-so feeling like a bored, childless newlywed who wasn’t being challenged at work, I picked photography back up again.
Slightly wiser in the financial department and armed with my first digital SLR, cue the BOOM. I was steadily shooting 3-4 sessions a week in addition to working 40+ hours full time. And to be honest, I liked being busy.
At first.
I had a lot of extra spending money, felt very popular and loved. I had to turn people away because I was so busy. Naturally, because I was charging next to nothing for my time and talent. But again, I didn’t have the need nor the knowledge for what I was doing.
My moonlight photography gig was really starting to interfere with my day job, though. I was taking calls and checking emails at inappropriate times… I was getting up at 5am to edit and shooting sessions after work. I don’t even know how I managed to also hold board positions in a few community organizations. It’s really a wonder that we hung on for 4 years at that pace. It still makes me sad to think that I chose work over Ryan so many times. It was a toxic time in my life and it took a major shock to bring me back to life.
I never thought I could choose between my clinic job and photography. I thought I loved them both so much. I had the safety and security from one and the passion for creativity satisfied with the other. But now looking back, deep in my heart, I feel from the pit of my soul that everything in life leads you and prepares you for the best life you could possibly lead. I am so very very lucky that I have found it. It’s mine. I have only God to thank.
this got so long…words just started pouring out. sorry : )
so there will be a part II cause i’m not finished.
