It is Christmas and the year is around 2009. My husband ask me if I would like a nice camera as a gift, it would be a way to make money. I said I would love a camera but I don’t see how I would have the time for it to be a job. We had 5 small children and the idea of getting out for a photo shoot and later sitting at the computer editing pictures was not something I saw happening.
He waited to buy me one….but only one year.
The following year I got me first “real” camera and played around with it. I am so thankful that my twin sister and one of my best friends both did photography. They were able to teach me so much from the start. I learned from the very beginning how to shoot manual and that shooting RAW was the best way. I learned where to have the focus and how to properly fill the space. I am also so thankful that my husband pushed for this because we have tons of fun pictures of our family and I have been able to be a part of tons of events now taking pictures.
Here are a few pictures from the start. They need some work but are still some of my favorites. They bring me back to the exact time they were taken.
I call myself a low maintenance photographer. I like to take pictures and give them back to you. I have a price but can work with your budget. I hate the idea of someone not getting family pictures because they can’t afford it.
When Jerry and I got married 22 years ago, we could not afford a photographer for our wedding. We had a relative step up and offer. We are forever thankful for the pictures he took but looking back we wished we had figured out a way to get a least one photo shoot with a professional. We have two pictures from that time that are our favorites. This one is from my uncle, who took the pictures for our engagement and wedding. 
Nope, we did not match our shirts on purpose, that’s what you call LOVE.
The next picture is the only one from our wedding day that really turned out ok of the two of us. It is from a friend’s camera. Unfortunately my uncle was a diabetic and had a reaction and there are no pictures after we were pronounced man and wife. 
I am so thankful to be able to take pictures and be a blessing to my friends. I know what it is like to not be able to afford a photographer and I know what it is like to miss out on a very important moment because you can’t afford something different.
So, here I am 10 years later since Jerry first threw out the suggestion. I have zero regrets and would not change a thing.
Conversations around the table 