When did you know you wanted to be a photographer?

“See the light in others and treat them as if that’s all you see.”

People have always asked me when or why I wanted to become a photographer.

..and my answer always is, ‘I have no idea…’

I remember in High School, I wanted to be a photographer or a physical therapist.

I remember shopping around Goodwill with my dad and seeing an $80 crap Canon film camera and immediately forcing him to take me to the bank to get money out (cause what high schooler carries around $80) and I bought my first ‘SLR camera.’ I was on top of the world and tried to take the cheesiest, ‘artsy’ photos.

I remember my first wedding shooting with another photographer and  dropping HER lens before the wedding started and paying her for my services.

I remember charging $50 for a portrait session with horribly edited photos.

I remember freaking out when I booked my first two weddings and being able to buy a backup camera.

I remember wanting to sell all my gear because I needed to pay bills fast.

I remember starting school for education because being a photographer wasn’t as realistic as I thought.

I remember pushing myself and telling myself ‘DOOO IT.’

I remember freaking the heck out about the future, wondering if I’ll make it, will I be able to pay bills, will I be able to raise a family..

and then I write this after plugging in new clients on my almost full calendar and could cry all the happy tears in the world because it’s no longer a dream. It’s a reality. But a dream.

Owning a business is no cakewalk, especially while working another full time job. It doesn’t just come to you (as I may have thought in the beginning.) I feel scared, excited, inspired, nervous and probably any other emotion possible. I can’t think of a time that I was happier. The snow is melted, our tiny mountain town is perfect,

I’m nervous for being productive everyday and balancing life and work, taking time for myself and my needs,