Want to know why I chose photography? How I got into and decided to start a photography business?

Why I chose photography

In a sense, did photography find me? When I bought my first DSLR camera, I was working in a cubicle for a manager who was a workaholic. I knew deep down in my bones that I was not a workaholic. A job is a means to support a lifestyle. It’s not everything. It’s not the only thing in life. But that was the vibe I used to get from my manager.

Why I chose photography? I just wanted a nice camera to take nice pictures.

When I started dabbling in photography, I had no idea that I would ever turn it into a business. I just wanted a nice camera to take nice pictures. But then I realized that I really love taking photos of people. It was like with the click of the shutter, I could capture that person’s essence. Their personality. Forever preserved in an image. Helping to save our memories in the moments when it is hard to remember.

I actually went to college for communication.

I remember looking through the course catalog my senior year of high school and perusing majors. I had thought about three avenues to take: psychology, human ecology/design, and communication. The human ecology/design course was through a program at Cornell University. I was so fascinated by the content that I applied a school far, far away from home where it snowed every year. I applied to see if I could get in. Sadly, I did not.

When I received my acceptance letter to the University of California, San Diego, I was ecstatic. It was my number one choice. I knew that I wanted to stay in California, but go to college as far away from home as possible. Plus, it helped that I had some family in San Diego. I chose to study communication because the math and science requirement was a whole lot less. If I’m being totally honest, I didn’t want to have to take a year and a half of calculus and serious science courses. That’s why I minored in psychology. I was able to take all the fun psychology classes without all the calculus and possibility of chemistry equations.

One of my freshman year suitemates in college took a photography course. I believe it was black and white film. I had always had an interest in photography, but after hearing about her experience in her class and the serious critiques she went through that often left her in tears, I was terrified to take a photo course. I preferred just taking photos from myself. I was excited that by my junior year in college, digital cameras had become more affordable and I received my first point and shoot digital camera for Christmas. I was so excited and used it to document everything. Since the camera was digital, I could document things without restraint. Making prints was optional, and to make more photos, just download and erase the card!

The reason why I chose photography

I really yearned for a digital SLR camera.

After college and several thousand digital photos later, I really yearned for a digital SLR camera. My dad has an old Minolta 35mm camera that I used once. And when I used it, I didn’t really understand all the mechanics. So after saving up some money from my first job out of college, I made my first big purchase: a Nikon D80. I. was. in. love. I still didn’t know much about photography or ISO, shutter speed, or aperture, but  I was determined to teach myself. Again, just to take some nicer photos. And then I fell in love again. With pictures of people.

At the time, my full time job was less than invigorating.

I was what I called a “cubicle monkey” sitting at my computer all day, answering emails and fulfilling orders. I discovered photography blogs and read up on tricks and techniques to make my photos better. I specifically discovered the world of wedding photography blogs as I was engaged and doing research for our own wedding. I loved what wedding photographers were doing. Gone were the days of cheese wedding photos. I mustered the courage to ask a couple coworkers if I could practice my photography skills on them and their husbands, and luckily they agreed. I knew a little more than I did a few months prior and I met them to take their photos for free, of course. It was so fun. We laughed. We chatted. We cracked silly jokes. I felt like I was onto something.

Shortly after that, a photographer I had met through an online forum invited me to tag along with her at a wedding. I could see what it was like and if weddings were something that I wanted to do. I met her for lunch before the wedding and she went over the basics. She told me I could bring my camera and take any photos I wanted. She also said that I could stay for as long or as short as I wanted. I hung out the entire day, through the ceremony and the reception. I loved it. I loved being around people who were celebrating a milestone occasion. I loved being around people who were so happy. And compared to my fulltime job, photographing weddings seemed like a dream.

So I decided to chase after it.

And that’s how it started. That’s why I chose photography. There’s just something so special about photography. How it captures a moment and saves it forever. How it writes history in a tangible way that people can look back on later in life. I love how photography helps us remember special moments in life, whether it is our senior year in high school, college graduation, wedding day, or family photos. Because life is fleeting. Sometimes you don’t know when the next time you will see someone will be. Photos help us remember, remind us to cherish those we love, and recall important and significant times in our lives.

2022 Update: I specialize in personal branding photography!