i am surrounded by so many photographers, i mean, who isn’t?! it is a highly saturated market. which is great! never think the ‘little guy’ or ‘newbie’ is a nuisance. every one that is successful, was once the ‘newbie’. in a few years, you may be working for or with the newbie!

i agree with jasmine star’s philosophy on new photographers – “a rising tide raises all ships”. she teaches other photographers things that she has learned in her 9+ years of being a wedding photographer. most times she does it for free! she’s amazing, by the way. she is by far, one of my favorite photographers. she is such a humble person and knows that her success came from others in the industry helping her get there. she did not have to step on anyone to get there.

{check out jasmine’s work here…}

when i first started in photography professionally, i was not welcomed with open arms. i had a few people, even family members, highly discourage me from it. there is even an irreparable relationship from some of the discussions that went on. i was a junior in college…nursing school to be exact. it was a crazy time for me to start a business. i was second shooting occasionally for another local photographer and i loved it! i was doing my own work on the side, but never for pay. it was for family members and friends. after a few sessions, my husband suggested i turn it into a business. it was one of the scariest yet most rewarding things i have ever done. i dreamed of it when i was little but i never thought it would be something i could actually do. i went to nursing school and was expected to follow that career path…

along the way, i struggled to find my style. i kept looking to ‘famous’ photographers and thinking, “my work will never look like that” or “i will never have that kind of client”. i was so skeptical. i judged my work so harshly! but my husband was so supportive, he was funding my business financially and mentally. he was my sounding board. my mother too! anytime i had a session i loved, or didn’t love – they heard about it…for days! after a few months, i started to try and find my signature style. some people have that velvety smooth, rich crisp look to their photography, while others just have a plain and saturated look. i definitely wanted to be considered a ‘creative’ photographer. i wanted to stand out and do things differently than people in my area. i was accused my first year of business in ‘copying’ a particular photographer’s set…because i took pictures of my niece sitting on a mirror….yeah….ridiculous, i know! you know the shot…the one that is still floating around on pinterest that EVERYONE has done 🙂 that’s the one.

after the struggles with a few bad attitudes, my husband pointed out that if you’re not causing a commotion…you aren’t doing it right. obviously, as an amateur i was causing a stir within my community. he was so right. a few people were feeling threatened by the things that i was doing. i did not have “professional” equipment, and i owned one…yes one…lens. i was still tough on myself though. i would compare my work to other photographers in my area and think, “i’m so far behind…”

i look back now and though i am NOWHERE near where i want to be professionally, i have come a long way. i thought i judge myself to harshly…but really i was pushing myself. i pushed myself to see what i was capable of. i cannot wait to see what is coming my way in the next few years 🙂