Did I always know I wanted to be a Photographer? - Southern Illinois Photography

A fellow Photographer asked me this question yesterday….It took me a minute to think of my response because the answer to that isn't short and kind of convoluted.  I always knew I was going to do something in a creative field. I told my Dad when I was super young that I was going to be an artist!! Then in High school while getting my senior pictures taken I told my mom that I would work there (at that studio) someday…and while I was getting my bachelors in Fine Art with a specialization in Graphic Design I took a photographers position at that same studio!! that was in 2004 when it all started. My grandpa was an artist in woodworking and other things, my mom painted, I have an aunt who is the craftiest person I know…and now I am a photographer….creativity is in my blood.

 I was always a hobbyist and had a crappy Minolta 35mm camera, then I took a black and white photography class at SIC where I learned to develop film and fell even more in love.  But I think I can nail down the exact moment when I knew I was in it to win it….I had to shoot some images for a graphic design class at SIU, so I photographed some of the dogwood trees in my parents back yard.  One of the images spoke to me and literally that was the "ah-ha" moment.  Sadly I cannot find that image. It was film and I have no clue where the negatives are.  I contacted the SIU Cinema & Photography department to chat with an advisor about switching majors and the lady told me I didn't need a degree for what I wanted to do, that I needed to get a job with a studio and learn it.  So that's exactly what I did.

It's taken a lot of money, blood, sweat and tears to get where I am today and it will always be a work in progress as I am learning something new everyday.  SO… if I were to give advice to anyone starting out as a photographer here it is.  Get an SLR camera, learn how to use it in manual, know what you're worth and don't copy someone else.  You have to develop your own style and you are not going to be able to do that trying to be someone else.

Every post needs an image…so below is an image of my grandpa holding his camera when he was in the military.  It's one of my favorite images! :)