Let me start out by saying that my story is still in the early stages, and that it’s going to be different than, perhaps, your story. Feel free to disagree with how I’ve done things, this is just the particular path that God’s taken me down. Also, my story is kind of long. Sorry I’m not sorry. PS- the photo below on the left if from my good friend Mike. You’ll read more about him in the next post! PPS- Find part 1 HERE!

It all began when I was 4 years old and won my first international photography competition… jk. I was half way through college and I’d lost my point and shoot, and I’d been toying with the idea of getting a “good camera,” so I made the biggest purchase of my entire life: $725.00 for a Nikon D40, an 18-55 kit lens and a 55-200 lens. I was sweating bullets- the biggest purchase I’d made up to that point was a $300 prom dress.

Six months later, I’d only ever used my camera on auto mode. I had no idea what changing your aperture or shutter speed did to your images. I think I just liked having a “better” camera than all of my friends (I’ll admit to being a snob about that, it was probably really annoying). Lucky for me, I had to have a fine art credit for my PR degree so I signed up for a beginner film photography class.

You guys? I’ve never been so in my element as I was when I was in the dark room. I literally spent hours in there on Friday nights, sometimes not emerging until 1 or 2 AM. I was completely smitten, hopelessly in love with photography. The click of my old Canon AE-1, the feel of resistance as I wound the film forward for another shot, the grain of Kodak Tri-X 400. It was pure bliss.

Fast forward again, another 5-6 months, to Fall of my senior year. I’d realized I was becoming slightly obsessed with looking at other people’s wedding photos. It occurred to me that I should look into combining my borderline obsession with stalking wedding photos love of looking at wedding photographs with my love of actually taking photographs…

That’s a shot I took for my film class of my niece, Isabella. I still love this image.

Check back for the third and final installment of the “Getting Started” series this afternoon! (cue awesome fadeout music). Happy Wednesday morning!