It’s funny to me that I like to write. I really do enjoy writing and blogging. But when I was in high school, English class was one of my least favorite classes. I wasn’t very good at analyzing literature and all the symbolism we were tasked with finding would make my head spin. Sometimes, having to submit my paper for a grade would make me feel like dry heaving. It wasn’t a good look. As a perennial overachiever, having a hard time with a subject would drive me crazy. I was just glad to have made it through, and I’m not going to lie, I’m relieved to never have to write an essay for a grade ever again.

When I started my photography business, I wanted to be a wedding photographer. I assisted other photographers, I would work with them as a second shooter, and did everything I could to create opportunities to photograph a wedding. But somewhere down the line, I started to feel lost. I wasn’t loving weddings the way that I had previously. I felt like my mojo for weddings started to dwindle…and soon disappeared. I felt lost. I didn’t know what I was doing anymore, and if you run your own business, it’s not the best place to be.

Don’t worry though, this story gets better.

In an attempt to spark my inspiration and creativity, I ventured into photographing some high school girls. To try something different. To see what would happen. And it turns out, I LOVED IT. I was lost, but then, I started to find myself. I started to find what I was really meant to do.

I love photographing high school senior girls because they are in a very exciting stage of life. They are on the precipice; about to graduate from high school and start a brand new chapter in college. I love starting with a client who is maybe a little bit shy and not accustomer to be photographed, and by the end of the session show her just how beautiful she is. Her confidence soars. She sees herself as beautiful. Perhaps for the first time ever. That’s why I do what I do. I love being able to help high school girls discover their confidence and beauty both inside and out. If my client walks away from a session feeling amazing, beautiful photos are merely gravy.

Technically, the full Thoreau quote is, “Not till we are lost, in other words not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our relations,” but it is often shortened to “Not till we are lost…do we begin to find ourselves.”

I’m thankful for the work I get to do.

(image via Miles of Road)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!

Thinking about a senior portrait session? Fall is my favorite time of year to photograph in Texas! The weather is cooler and sunsets are richer. Golden hour really is golden. This is the perfect time of year to book your senior portrait session with Catie Ronquillo Photography! I still have 2 spots left in October – with NO weekend dates available. November still has four spots and 2 weekend dates. BOOK YOUR SESSION NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!