How I found my purpose as a wedding photographer
I became a self-taught wedding photographer straight out of high school. Now that I mentor other photographers and small business owners, I find myself getting asked all the time, “how did you find your purpose?” Today, I want to attempt to put it into words.
Story time: How I found my purpose as a wedding photographer
Growing up, I knew I was meant to do something creative. As a kid, I would find a new hobby to obsess over. I had a few core friends that I would spend every weekend with. We would spend a lot of time playing outside. (And probably an equal amount of time playing video games.)
In a household of entrepreneurs, I felt this desire – a need – to make a business out of what I loved to do.
I found ways to sell my crafty creations or enter contests with my poetry. I would work towards something and eventually lose interest and move onto something else. There was a time when I had a dream to create an eclectic shop full of handmade and vintage treasures, gifts, and beautiful gift wrap. A place where all of my mismatched, favorite things, could fit in perfectly. It was like I was creating my own space of my eclectic list of favorite things, and they could have a place where they can be cohesive. However, my determination would fizzle out as my desire for the “next thing” would arise.
The desire to make a business out of my passion was built from the pressure of feeling the need to know what I was going to do with the rest of my life. My answer was different every time. I wasn’t alone, none of my peers knew, but I still felt the immense pressure. I continued on my purpose-seeking journey. Auditioning for acting roles, learning to play guitar, even writing my own song lyrics.
Then at 14, I picked up a camera.
When I was in Jr. High, my family moved from WA to CA. It was difficult to stay connected to my community while being so far away. Sharing photos on social media allowed me to invite them into my journey with me.
tmInspired photos from 2016-2018
Photography allowed me to share my experiences and my story.
By the time I graduated HS, I assisted a wedding photographer for one of my friends weddings. This is when the little flame inside of me ignited. I thought about photography every waking moment. I found a mentor who let me shadow her and get my footing. It wasn’t just another hobby, this one felt unlike anything else.
I photographed my first lead wedding when I was just 18. It was a horrible experience, haha, but that’s a story for another time. ;) I think it was my first true test of if I was going to leave this hobby behind, or push through and keep going. I’m really glad I kept going.
Often times, you shouldn’t turn your passion into your job because now it’s WORK. It’s incredibly stressful and can lead to burnout very quickly. I’d be the first to say that it’s not for everyone. But for me? I feel like it was rooted in me from the start.
Today, I even get to work alongside my husband who also documents weddings full time. Together, we get to connect with other humans on an intimate level. Being at a different wedding every weekend is, in a new way, satisfying my childhood desire for that eclectic space with beautiful gift wrap I once dreamed of. Who would’ve guessed this was the journey I would have found myself on?
tmInspired photos from 2023
Every wedding season is a journey. Every wedding is a story I am invited to tell.
The wedding photography world is a high-pressure gig. In a world that moves so fast, re-living memories through photographs allows us to sink into it. Images that they’ll show the next generation and help tell the story of a day they meticulously planned a celebration of their love. And being the one trusted to help tell that story is an absolute honor.
Yes, this job is for the passionate creative soul, but it is also about connecting with people and REALLY seeing them. It’s about trusting your gut and letting the creativity flow.