At the risk of sounding cliche…

It may be cliche to say “I grew up around cameras”. If so, pardon me, but I’ll have to be cliche. Cameras were an integral part of my childhood. Not only was my dad the classic home video kind of father, my mom also invested in a nice Cannon camera. They were both known to be taking photos and footage at family events. Boxes of film photographs took up a lot of room in our closets at home.

Professionally, my dad worked as a wedding videographer. I remember the whole process from him attending the wedding day, to catching glimpses of him editing in his home office, to the finished VHS tapes that he would hand off to the couples. My mom’s photography was a hobby and she was educated as well as talented. Generously, she allowed us to use her camera from time to time. She taught us the rules of framing and how to look for the best angles. My siblings and I were always eager for praise from her. She helped us grow our skills by sharing feedback whenever we showed her our pictures. 

As we grew to adulthood, my siblings and I have all taken an interest in the arena of cameras. My older sister is currently working as a content creator for brands. My oldest brother is following in our father’s footsteps as a wedding photographer and videographer. My second brother has greatly enjoyed a hobby of making stop motion videos. My younger sister is working on her skills as a videographer and photographer for musical bands. As for me, well it’s been a journey. 

My first position was working as an intern for my oldest brother. At the time he was making videos for non-profits and as a result I got some amazing opportunities while being his equipment carrier, not the least of which was a trip to the Philippines as a sixteen year old. 

When I was seventeen my parents moved and I was unable to continue working with my brother. That was no excuse for a break!  Using my father’s equipment I experimented with videography on my own. I filmed my first solo wedding. I filmed my friends performing a set at an outdoor concert. Serendipitously, I found another internship under a videographer who was shooting a studio mini series for a Christian ministry. Although not my favorite experience, I was able to observe the difference between opposing styles of videography and came to the conclusion that I much preferred my brother’s documentary and lifestyle approaches to telling a story. 

Soon after that project wrapped, I moved back to my hometown and was able to resume working for my brother. I was promoted to the position of second shooter and for the first time was getting paid for my efforts, Hallelujah!  Under the mentorship of my brother my skill grew as did my understanding of the profession. He was now working primarily as a wedding photographer and videographer. His talent both awed and intimated me. Getting comfortable as a second shooter, my ambition to grow fizzled out and died. It didn’t help that I had convinced myself I could never do what my brother did. Sadly, even after all my experience I never felt confident in my skill. I dared not even call myself a photographer and continuously downplayed any role I had in helping my brother. When my personal life again had me moving away from him it ended my journey as a photographer.

Or so I thought.

Years later, my camera did come out of the box I had packed it in and I began a very new relationship with photography. No longer an experimental teenager or an intern or a second shooter, the pressure was on. Not surprisingly, I rose to the occasion. As it turned out, photography is an integral part of who I am. Photography means so much more to me than a side hustle, or even a full and successful career. It’s a part of my story and my family’s story. Launching into a photography career has felt like coming home in so many ways. It brings me an incredible amount of joy and excitement. I’m so grateful looking back on all the opportunities I had as a child and a young adult to grow this talent of mine.

Jesus’s parable of the talents is a familiar and well loved story. I have thought of it often in relation to different aspects of my life and vocation. It rings especially true in this profession. Some might think it silly to say that taking pictures has any relation to the kingdom of God, but having converted to the Catholic faith I know well the importance of images. Not only is our faith and history steeped with beautiful pictures of biblical stories and sacred images of our Lord, Lady, and Saints, artists of various kinds are held in high esteem by our church.

I feel a great sense of pride in the talent the Lord has gifted me with. I dare not bury it, but instead hope to use it for His glory. For now that means embracing the task of capturing sacred moments like the sacraments we celebrate often (weddings, baptisms, and first communions), coming alongside families to capture the joy of their vocations through maternity, newborn, and family photography, and helping Catholic businesses thrive through the use of beautiful and authentic photography integrated into their advertisements, social media platforms, and websites. I’ll work diligently on these blessed things now and keep an open heart and mind to the Lord’s direction. Perhaps one day I’ll come full circle and have the opportunity to work with ministries and non-profits again. Whatever the future holds for me, I’m looking forward to it.

God bless!