When I was 10 years old, I received my first camera as a gift- a Kodak 110. Whenever there was a family function or something notable, I would whip out my camera and attempt to take pictures to capture the moment. Back then, I'd take pictures of anything and everything- and in the process, I annoyed my family and my friends with my constant flashing of the camera.Eventually, over time, I upgraded my cameras with the times and I kept on taking pictures. In college, my mom bought me my first 35mm SLR and I learned the basics of exposure by spending a lot of money on film and developing.
Then, in 2004, my husband bought me my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel. Over a course of 4 years, I embraced my new gadget and eventually re-taught myself the fundamentals of photography, with a digital twist. I went on field trips, joined some photography clubs and other organizations, and was able to practice more and gain more knowledge in the growing art of digital photography. It seems like I learn something new every day when it comes to cameras, exposure, composition, or even post-processing.
In the last two years, I've taken the next step, amongst the encouragement of my family and friends. These days, on weekends, I take some time to practice the craft, shooting portraits for some really great people. I do this for fun and try to keep it that way- my approach to photography is to keep things light, happy, and natural- after all, I feel that life is a gift- and we should enjoy it- and even sometimes, capture those moments in photographs.
