10 years ago today I shot my first wedding. My Canon Rebel and I had no business doing it, but Jen and JD took a chance on me. I left, called Mark (then, fiancé) and said that I was pretty sure I wanted to be a wedding photographer. I was weeks away from completing my degree (not in photography), but I focused the rest of my summer building a “website” (thanks, bludomain!), editing my first wedding (in iPhoto 😂) and claimed myself a photographer. Yeah, I know 🙄
Though I don’t shoot a lot of weddings these days, I’m forever grateful for the seasons where they consumed me. They made me fall in love with storytelling. It took a while, but I learned to care more about real moments with real humans over epic portraits for likes and enough details to get me published (what a waste of stress that was). What has always prevailed is PEOPLE.
People are why I created Back Down South (RIP ☠️). People are why I fell in love with editorial work and mourn the days full of it alongside Jess Graves. People are why I now love shooting families. People taught me to stop being cynical about this work when I felt over it time and time again.
10 years. I’m so thankful to all the people. All the clients who trusted me and all the friends made along the way. All the stories that I’ve been invited into and all the love I’ve been honored to witness. And, of course, I’m thankful for every dance party that I got to join. Here is a little collection of good times with good hearts.
