The basics of Photography

Today I was thinking back to the moment I decided I wanted to pursue photography. I specifically remember the month and the year that I finally made my decision. Easter 2005, our daughter Brianna was only 9 months old. Ray and I had purchased a point and shoot Canon 5 mega pixel camera and I had dressed both Kendell and Brianna in their Easter best. That night as I was uploading the digital files to share with family and friends I finally realized. "I want to be a professional photographer".


I was receiving loads of compliments on how good my amateur digital captures of my kids were and I realized that I could actually get paid for taking pictures. I started googeling different sites and started doing A LOT of research on the net on how to become a "professional photographer". My first challenge was trying to convince Ray that the investment into a good camera and lens would afford us the benefit of having some extra money coming into our household. Although the money was a great benefit, I've always loved photographs and loved taking pictures, so being able to get paid to do what I loved just seamed like a common sense decision.

I started out with a Canon Rebel and a lens that came with the kit. Compared to our simple point and shoot camera, the Rebel was a HUGE improvement! Most of what I learned, I learned on the net. I googeled EVERYTHING about my camera and all the settings. I practiced, practiced and practiced some more. Then on my birthday, Ray and the kids got me enrolled in a photography class at a local photography school. I soaked up EVERY morsel of knowledge that my brain could absorb. I'm pretty certain I drove the instructor nuts because while everyone was sitting quietly, I was enthusiastically raising my hand and asking questions, despite how stupid I might appear due to my lack of knowledge in F-Stops, ISO, White Balance.

I admit, I over compensate when I feel that I don't know something, I over do it, on trying to figure it out or drive other people crazy in asking their opinion on how to get it done. I have NO SHAME when it comes to needing my questions answered about ANYTHING. The bottom line, I wasn't going to start being shameful at a time when I knew I had to KNOW everything about my camera and how to stop getting fuzzy blurry pictures.

Yes, having to know the techniques hasn't been much fun. Even today I still ask questions, browse the net and ask more and more questions. The thing that has benefited me the most? Practice, practice, practice. The more I practice the better I get the technical side of my trade.

I learned a valuable lesson on the first gig that I booked before being "knowledgeable" of my equipment: if I was going to start a photography business I'd have to learn the basics. For someone who just wants to "pick up and run with it", this has been a HUGE challenge for me but I've done it and continue learning and discovering new ways to use the settings on my camera.

I've come a looooong way since the first family that allowed me to photograph them. My friend Jimmy wanted pictures of his daughters and I opted to take him up on his offer to pay me. Because I'm putting myself out there to you internet....so that you can see that everyone begins somewhere: I wanted to share the pictures with you so that you could see for yourself that the only way to perfect a skill is by working at it and I've worked at it a lot.

The following pictures were taken 2 months after my decision to pursue photography in July 2005 (my first paid gig : )   ). Enjoy....

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