So today you get to know all about me. Sure, there is an “About Me” section on my website but for some of you that wasn’t enough. This post is going to dive a little deeper into what makes me who I am. Where my passion for photography came from and the journey it has taken me on throughout the years. Lucky for me, I have an amazing boyfriend who also does photography. He snapped some new profile pictures for my website a bit ago (when my hair was still vibrant blue) so I thought this was a fitting time to unveil those as well.
Back in the day I was quite the ‘tomboy’ – climbing trees and traipsing through cornfields. I grew up with chickens, goats and other random small farm animals. I ran around barefoot pretty much all through the summer and had freckles sprinkling my face as I spent most of my time out in the sunshine. I was always doodling in church and sketching in my tree house. I really didn’t pick up a camera until I was about 12 or 13. My creative outlet was always in form of paper and paint till that day I discovered a lens and shutter. From that moment on I was shooting everything in sight. My poor family put up with my constant family photo experiments every day. I used a Kodak Easy Share for the longest time until I was introduced to my unknowingly long time forever friend, the DSLR. I was opened to this world of being complete and utter control over my images. Shutter speed and aperture fascinated my mind and I was starting to learn the ins and outs.
Fast forward a couple years and I was on a plane out west for my very first photography class. I couldn’t contain my excitement and I threw myself into furthering my skills and unleashing my passion for portrait shooting. After Colorado, I went to further training in Chicago to hone in my editing skills and portraits. Every day I was reading and experimenting on anything and anyone that would let me shoot them. I had the opportunity to do some international photojournalism in Peru for the first time and I believe that is when I knew that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I shot multiple events, portraits and traveled from Peru, Romania, Mexico and Canada.
I was asked to shoot my first wedding by my boss. What was mind blowing and earth shattering at the same time is that this was not going to be just any wedding. If you are familiar with the TLC show “19 Kids and Counting” then you are familiar, obviously with the Duggar family. Well, David Waller was marrying Priscilla Keller who is Anna Duggars sister and TLC was going to be featuring the wedding on the show. I was going to be the main photographer along with Chad and Thomas Paine. None of us had shot a wedding before and yet we decided why not?! I remember that wedding morning like it was yesterday. The nerves and shaky hands, wondering how to manage to manuver our way through all the TLC camera crew and such. At the end of the day (and running entirely on adrenaline) we collapsed but never felt more alive. I loved every minute of that wedding and decided that weddings were my destiny as a photographer. What was even more thrilling was to see Chad, Thomas, and myself on the TLC channel when the show aired!
After that first wedding I shot alongside other seasoned wedding photographers. I learned so much as a second shooter. I wouldn’t trade those weddings for anything. Learning how to work with a variety of clients and mothers of the bride haha It trained me to know what needed to get done and how to be organized and work on a time crunch. I continued to increase my portfolio with family shoots, newborns, engagement and maternity sessions.
What I am most grateful for is the friends I have made along this journey. Chad and Thomas and I shot many international trips together and weddings after David and Priscillas. I always joked with with that when they got married I had dibs on their weddings. Well, the day came that I got a text from Chad asking me to shoot his and Erin Bates wedding. I was so excited to shoot for them! It was once again another wedding that TLC and the Duggars would be apart of. It really couldn’t have been more perfect for their wedding. Beautiful Tennessee fall colors made for a stunning backdrop in their wedding photos.
Almost a year later I was asked by Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard to shoot their gorgeous June wedding. Chad joined me on this shoot and I have to say it was one of the largest weddings I have participated in ever. “19 Kids and Counting” will be featuring the wedding in their new season on TLC. Due to the wedding not being aired yet I am unable to share those pictures on social media as of yet. Once the show airs I’ll be posting them for you all to see. I really can’t wait to share those with you all! Trust me, it’s been hard not to. People Magazine had a contract on the photo release of the wedding photos so they did do a special issue that did feature one of my family shots from the wedding (which I promptly bought and squealed when I saw my name credited for my photo!!! ahhhh 😀 ) As most of you know, Jessa Duggar will be the next in line this November to get married to Ben Seewald. I’ve been asked to shoot their wedding as well!
Honestly as a young, wild 13 year old with her point and shoot camera, I would never have imagined what looking through that lens would take me in life. I am amazed every day when I look through my images that I have had the privilege to capture. I am still learning and still growing in my art and I know I have many more years to grow in this crazy thing called photography. I hope that you all enjoy my journey as much I am. Sharing images on here is just my way of sharing the excitement and thrill I get when I capture memories. It’s really a small glimpse into who I am as a person when you see each image.
.ez.
PS- These are the influential teachers/photographers that have inspired much of my journey along the way (some may not even realize it but I stalk them heavily and glean as much as I can from them)
IPS (Institute of Photographic Studies)
Britton Felber
Derks Works
Sarah Bradshaw
Rosie Hardy
elizabethzellonphotography 