HOW THIS ALL BEGAN

From taking portraits of my Beanie Babies to this in only 27 short years.

Yep, it’s true, that’s how dorky I was as a kid. I’d make a nice backdrop with a blanket, like those old Sears portrait studios, and set up my Beanie Babies one by one and snap away – multiple angles too! And yep, it was the ’90s so that was all on film. Oh, and I’d order duplicates to give to my cousin, too. I bet that used to run my grandpa at least $40 weekly in film developing costs, though he never mentioned it.

My grandpa gave me my first camera around this age, a little 35mm film point and shoot. It was black and tan, a Bell + Howell. Since I took my first picture, I was hooked.

But even though I still loved taking photos as I got older – eventually moving onto a Pentax MG and then my first “pro-ish” Canon years later – I always thought it wasn’t a job that would be possible for me to do. For other people, yes. For me, no way. I wasn’t creative enough or talented enough or business-savvy enough (that last part was true at first LOL).

Eventually I realized being a photographer isn’t about “talent,” it’s about practice. Dedication. Learning. Improving slowly. And, ultimately, creating something people want to buy from you. In my case, combined with my natural love for animals of all kinds, that’s powerful portraits of your furry friend(s) to have forever. 🙂