I thought I was going to be a famous actress. Probably not an A-lister in Hollywood, but someone who made a living on the stage and through small, but prolific character roles on tv or movies.
Let’s just say that I thought wrong.
Little did I know when I slowly began to phase out of theatre performance that my real artistic adventure had yet to begin. So how did it begin?
With a food blog, like all good photographic journeys! I got my first DSLR camera so that I could take better photos of cupcakes in my kitchen, while I worked hard to become the vegan Martha Stewart. (Another goal that I never quite achieved, although I can whip up a wicked dinner party, to this day).
In between all of my baking, cooking, and learning my basic camera settings, I was also getting married.
So as I dove deeper into photography, I was lucky to have found a starter mentor in my own wedding photographer. I hate to say it, but I learned everything one SHOULD NOT do to be a successful wedding photographer.
Even luckier, I got to know Serena Star, who second shot my wedding. To this day, she’s one of the few people I’ll let photograph me! (Gosh, how have I gone from being center stage to being camera shy?!)
So how did I magically go from being an amateur food blogger with a camera to the top-rated Philadelphia wedding photographer that I am nowadays?
My cousin had a low-key, family-only backyard wedding in the Carolinas and I brought my camera for fun. I’d never been to North Carolina and I figured I’d take some fun vacation photos while I visited. Instead, I learned that my cousin didn’t have a photographer (like I said, it was low-key). And I decided that day that I would be her wedding photographer.
My camera was set to auto. I’d never photographed a live person before in my life. I definitely had no clue what I was doing.
But there was one thing that I understood more than anything. That having the moments to save was worth bearing with my complete lack of talent.
But whether I was any good or not (newsflash, I was terrible), I caught the bug. I started a short apprenticeship, assisted on a few weddings, and before I knew it, I struck out on my own.
Shortly before my first wedding season, I was at work slinging coffees when none other than Rachel Pray walked in. I had known Rachel from working together a few years prior – she was finishing up high school and pursuing a photography apprenticeship – so I asked her if she’d want to be my second shooter. Thankfully she said yes and it was the start of a fantastic 8 year journey (so far!).
So here we are, nearly a decade later. Hundreds of weddings have passed, but one thing hasn’t changed.
The most important part of your wedding day is the moments that you’ll live through – we’re just there to capture it. And to capture it much more artistically than I could capture a decade ago.
Ready to have me and my crazy backstory at your wedding? Schedule a time to connect and talk more about your wedding day!