All the way back to Elementary school, I have loved cameras. I received a camera when I was in 3rd grade from my parents - and I still have the pictures I took of me and my friends while we played outside in the snow because of that camera. Then in high school I took as many photography classes as possible. I took the final class twice, even though I would not get credit for it, just because it was so interesting to me.
At family events, weddings specifically, I was 'that person' behind the photographer (waiting for the photographer to get done with their shot first of course) and then I would say something to my family to get them to laugh -- that was the picture I wanted. Where people were laughing and being themselves and not quite so posed. Although posed photography is nice, I love pictures of people just being themselves as well.
I ended up going to college for computers and after 12 years I never felt like I was being as creative and outgoing as I could be in photography. I often received many compliments and inquiries asking why I am not doing photography as a full time job. Finally I decided to listen and make a career out of photography -- my true passion.
During this day and age photography is even more fun than it used to be (which I never thought possible). I just love how you can take one photograph and make so many variations of it. You can make art out of a photograph much easier than during the 35mm days. With my computer background, I get the best of both worlds with having the fun of taking these wonderful pictures of people and then going to the studio and working on the various ways I can creatively alter the picture to make it really stand out from the rest.
