I have been organizing my files in preparation for our upcoming wedding season and I couldn’t help but notice some of my old work. I have always thought it would be interesting to post some of my previous work, but was nervous. I mean, come on…I remember thinking “WOW. This is AWESOME” when I took them. Now I’m looking at them thinkin….”Oh lord…I was so naive.”

I have literally loved photography ever since I can remember. I was obsessed with National Geographic. I loved the feeling of those glossy pages between my fingers. I wanted to take pictures that made people want to sit and stare at them. I’ll never forget that passion that I felt. It seems silly, but when I look back, I know that I was meant for this. It wasn’t something I stumbled into and thought, “Hey, this could be cool”. It was something that I was born to do. But just because I had the passion, it didn’t mean I had the skill.

I took photography classes whenever I could but I wasn’t getting the education that I needed. It wasn’t until I flat out went to pursue my degree that I started to learn my craft and understand what I was doing. I’ll never forget that first day in class…As soon as I got in my car, I was on the phone with my roommate telling her “OH MY WORD! I have learned more in the last 3 hours then I have in the last 10 years!” It was like it suddenly clicked!

I have learned many tough lessons over the years, especially during my portfolio building years. And even still, there are new things that I need to learn and want to learn. The industry is ever changing and there is always some new amazing technique that some fantastic photographer developed. What matters is the hunger and passion to learn…oh. And humility. There is a reason photographers quit every day. There is a reason some just become hobbyists. There is a reason some never pick up a real camera ever again. It’s hard and sometimes heartbreaking. It’s a tough industry and it takes passion, confidence and humility to navigate your way.

So in that spirit, I thought it would be fun to make Thursday’s my Throwback days!
Below is a series of 4 images that I captured. The very top one and the one on the bottom left were taken of the same couple. This session was a portfolio building session. I offered to do it for them because they had no wedding pictures (they didn’t hire a professional) and it always bothered them. This was a trash the dress session basically. We took these images almost 3 years (and 2 children) after their wedding! This was 5 years ago. I had yet to go to school for photography.

The 2nd image below is from a trash the dress of one of my couples in almost the exact same spot as the first one. Yeah. Big difference. The 4th images is from the wedding of one of my couples, Jenn + Drew. This was taken just this last year.

 

 

I guess the point is, WOW. I know I’m a better photographer today than I was 5 years ago. Heck, even better than I was last year. I’m constantly pursuing my education and take this business so very seriously. It’s been one of my greatest pleasures, and sometimes the source of my greatest pain. But I LOVE what I do. And if you can say that about what you’re doing, you’re one lucky dog.

Keep an eye out next Thursday for our next Throwback!