There has always been a creative side to me, but trying to polish any one skill was hard until I discovered photography in high school. My photojournalism class in 10th grade had us study what makes a great picture before we ever started shooting anything for ourselves. It's one thing to look at an image and appreciate it, but it's something else to look at an image and know why it stands out. The exercises of examining beautiful pictures and subsequently trying to replicate an interpretation of them helped me learn not to just snap some pictures. 

 

Almost immediately after my first photography course, which also taught me a lot about digital media, event flyers, and more, I started taking pictures for others. Babies, weddings, senior pictures, and concerts are just a few the subjects that I got paid to photograph. However, I have also donated hours and hours of my time photographing rescue animals, fundraising events, and fundraising projects over the years. I loved being able to make a difference in getting an animal just the right attention to assist in finding a home. It gave me a chance to practice my eye for the right moments while meeting literally thousands of dogs and cats (mostly). It was a win in all aspects.

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I am often asked why I never became a true professional photographer. I tired to, but my parents thought it was better to have photography as a hobby rather than a profession, so I studied German instead. However, I had often dreamt of becoming a wildlife photographer. I imagined myself lying on an iceberg waiting for the sun to start to set so that I could capture a walrus in just the right light in her natural habitat. I still hope that day will come, but I will not be doing it for pay. For now I will shoot what I see around me in Atlanta or on any travels.