A question I get a lot is how did you get started doing this job?
Well, it all started way back in Junior high….
My dad was into photography. So he bought me a little Canon Rebel film camera. I messed around with it a bit at home. But I really got into it when I went to visit my aunt in Iowa for a summer. I was there to babysit my cousin because my aunt and uncle were expecting a son. When he arrived, I took many photos. One of the photos I took, I entered in a photo contest at school the next year. This was when my love of photographing children and families began. I won that contest, by the way.
After this, I continued on dabbling through high school and a little in college. But mostly after college when I travelled. During our honeymoon through the Med, I took 6 rolls of film. My husband was always know as the photographer. Not any more. During these two years, everything changed. Right after that, Canon came out with the digital Rebel. I remember thinking that digital wouldn’t last. Ha!
All the rest of our trips were documented by me. The tide turned and now I am the official photographer. Chris still takes photos everywhere we go, but he likes drones and video more than photography. He usually leaves that to me.
I continued on with travel photography (since that was what we did most) until 2008. We get pregnant on Mother’s Day 2008, so I started looking into maternity and newborn portraits. I quickly realized that the only place that was doing this type of portraits was the mall. And after 6 years of trying to get pregnant, I was not going to take my newborn to the mall for photos. So I had my husband take our maternity portraits.
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And since my parent’s lived in Austin at the time, I had Caden’s newborn photos taken by a friend there. His newborn photo experience was awful. He cried the entire time, 3 hours. And I didn’t bring the diaper bag, thinking it wouldn’t take that long. It was so stressful. Right then, I decided I would not make mothers travel to me. It is just too much when you just had a baby.
Sometimes easier is better. And I want my mama’s to be less stressed. I can make beautiful images anywhere.
So once my little one arrived… I continued working my corporate gig for about a year. And doing the photography thing on the weekends. But soon it started bleeding into the week a little too much. And my hubby could tell I just didn’t have my heart into the corporate thing anymore. So when the downturn in oil came around, I happened to get laid off. Everything worked out for the best. 2009 I was able to start my photography business full time. And ever since then I can focus on my family and my passion full time.
Now every March, I celebrate another year in business. 2021 will be 12 years in business. We typically photograph 150 families a year. So we must be doing something right.
I have come a long way in 12 years of photography. You learn a lot each year. Business wise and photography wise. The good thing is I love what I do and I think my families love it too. Just look at a video of our 10 year look back.
Are you looking for a family photographer? You have come to the right place? Drop me a line and let’s talk. Or call me! 832-573-3731. I would love to capture your family in a unique way. Now is the perfect time when everyone is home.