I started this blog in an effort to help other photographers . . . photogra-mommas, specifically. I have had a lot of help along the way and just wanted to do the same. Today, however, I am feeling a bit self-conscious about it.
A little over 8 years ago, I was a college student at Texas A&M University. I had officially switched my major 11 times . . . no lie. I ranged from English to Elementary Education to Biomedical Science. (And sometimes doubled-back again.) In June of 2001, I married my high-school sweetheart and when we sat on the couch and looked at our beautiful wedding album for the first time, I looked at the love of my life and said, “This is what I want to do. I want to be a wedding photographer.” He smiled and said, “sounds good.” Problem – Texas A&M did not have a photography department. (It’s really not so much of an arts school . . . ) When I told him I wanted to change my major again and wanted to change universities, he did not smile and said, “Find some other way to do it. You have to graduate at some point.”
Long story short, I contacted the amazing Doug Box after hearing he was the very best in town. (We would have hired him to photograph our wedding, but he was already booked for our wedding date!) He looked at my “portfolio”, graciously said “hmmmmm” and nothing more (oh yes, it was that bad), and hired me to carry his equipment for the wedding that very evening.
I cannot give Doug enough credit for saving me years of charging too little and marketing the wrong way. He patiently (and I mean patiently . . . I was dense about this) helped me learn to look for the light. He introduced me to PPA, TPPA and Texas School. He started me out on the right foot for sure, and while I still managed to make plenty of mistakes (I told you I can be dense), he definitely saved me from just as many.
Today I am in a position where I am sometimes sharing my knowledge and it winds up feeling totally silly. While it is a dream of mine to someday educate photographers (particularly moms starting out in the business who want to do it right) I feel completely unqualified to do so today. I find myself often feeling embarrassed or self-conscious when I go to make an educational post. Who am I to share this information with you all? I have never been published, I have won no awards, I am not even PPA Certified (although it’s on my to-do list for sure!). I just have a modest (although profitable) business I run out of my modest home. In the land of the photography industry, I am officially a nobody.
I hope anyone reading this blog knows that I want to share and inspire . . . never preach. I hope anyone reading knows I never speak from a place of authority . . . just experience. I hope this blog helps to serve as a source of encouragement for wherever we are in our journey, just as long as we are all striving to grow and improve.
Have a great week everyone. Oh, and if you were curious, I changed majors one last time to Journalism . . . and finally graduated just one year later.
Now, go enjoy the Super Bowl! (Or if you’re like me, just the commercials!)
by Emily
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