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I have read countless articles online and books centered around doing what you love and loving what you do. There are topics like being better, doing more, steps for success, and how to balance it ALL. It’s a lot to process sometimes! First and foremost, I am a wife- trying to put my husband first. Then I wear the mom hat, juggling being intentional and still staying on top of the housework, laundry, FUN times, and soaking everything up while my kids are 6 and 4. Next? I’m a daughter, sister, aunt, photographer, blogger, family business working, writing dreaming, friend–all trying to be the best version of all of those things that I can be.
I had always dreamt of being a wife and mom, but I didn’t always dream of being a photographer. I will never forget when I got the itch. A dear friend of mine had taken some beautiful photos of Brayden when he was brand new, and I couldn’t get over the details in them. The wrinkles in his hands, the way his lips pursed together, and his long fingers that had everyone swooning. I knew right then and there that I did not want to miss a single second of him growing! My friend, then started taking new clients and upgraded cameras, so I bought her old one. My very first DSLR- a Canon Rebel xsi.
I started playing with it, learning the settings, soaking up every technical detail that I could. I took a Photoshop class at a local community college, and I took my camera everywhere. Soon, I started taking on clients and this hobby became so much more than that.
One of the very first sessions I did was for a family who had special needs children, 5 to be exact. They weren’t able to leave their home at the time, so they wanted someone to come photograph their children in their home so they would have some photos to give to family members. I remember the mom shedding tears as she stood behind me, watching me interact with her children. At the end, she hugged me and said it meant so much to her that I came. I offered her a Kleenex (something I always keep in my camera bag to dry happy tears!) and I knew at that very moment that this hobby was much more.
I’m helping families preserve life right where they are in that moment. I get to capture milestones (like 90th birthday parties and engagement photos) so that people can have these photos to treasure for years to come. From weddings to senior photos, to baby’s first year, all of these memories are important and worth having.
One of my most treasured photographs from recently is the 4 generation photo I took of my husband, his brother, his dad, his grandpa, and Brayden. This is a photo that I have been wanting to get for some time, all I had to do was get the boys to quit working for a few minutes. I know that this photo will be treasured in our family for generations to come, and it is such a blessing for me that I got to capture this moment.
Photography turned from a hobby into a way of life for me. There is nothing better than being behind the lens, helping other families capture their legacies and important life moments. That’s why I always carry Kleenex, because you never know the profound effect you will have on someone you meet when you are doing something that you love.
I keep both things handy in my camera bag along with my gear, memory cards, and suckers.
I stock up on Kleenex at Walgreen’s- as well as cute thank you cards to include when I mail out client CD’s. It’s a personal touch that reflects my passion for photography and my thanks to my clients. Right now, you can save $0.75 on any variety of Kleenex at Walgreens with this coupon. Now you can be prepared for all the touching family moments that are right around the corner.
What moments are you prepared for?
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