My Journey Into Photography 📸
- Rachel
- Nov 28, 2023
- 5 min read
As my first year as a full time photographer comes to an end, I often think about how far I have come from the moment I first picked up a camera. I actually think about it often. If I had never picked up that Kodak point-and-shoot, if my mom never even had a digital camera in the first place, would I have ever discovered my passion?
I'll never forget that day. It was summer of 2007 and I was 11 years old, running around in the backyard with my Golden Retriever, Mikey, when the idea sparked. I asked my mom if I could borrow her camera to play around with. I even remember going into her room with her, so eager, watching her pull it out of its case. I ran back to the yard and, without even knowing, started my journey as a photographer. This was the first photo I had taken that day, not knowing then how special it would be to me later.
Throughout high school, I took every photography and video production class available. I studied digital and even learned film, and I had the chance to participate in state competitions for photo and video. At 16 years old, I saved all my money and purchased my first DSLR - a Canon Rebel T3 - and it was my most prized possession 📸
I grew up in the Pocono Mountains, surrounded by woods and rivers and lakes and waterfalls. I grew up loving nature and there wasn't a nice day that we as kids didn't spend outside. I believe this is where my love for photography really took off - nature and landscapes were my favorite thing to capture and I was always chasing that next photo.
One random March day in 2013, I was walking to my cousin's house next door, camera in hand, when the most beautiful owl appeared in front of me. I snapped this photo by mere chance, and it ended up being one of my best photos ever! (at the time)
I hear that to this day my old photography teacher still shows this photo to students as an example of proper shutter speed, and in my eyes, that is freaking awesome 🤩
Throughout the rest of my time in high school, I took classmates' senior photos for $30 a pop. I even accepted a backpack as payment 😅 Looking back at those portraits, I can't help but cringe. Back then, I didn't understand the importance of posing or how to flatter people through my lens. So I told myself portrait photography wasn't for me. 🤷♀️
In 2017, I applied to be a vendor at a local art show in Narrowsburg, New York. It was my first time ever really putting my landscape photography out there for sale. And it was a HIT! I left the show that hot July day feeling more ambitious and determined than ever. I filed for a sole proprietorship and called myself Photography by Rachel Elizabeth. I continued with art shows for two years, some more successful than others, but it was never enough to honestly make it worth it. I would be lucky if I made $100 at a 6 hour show, and the prep to even get to these shows was hard work. And over and over, people would tell me "You should do portraits!" Nahhhh.
But then, in 2018, another opportunity presented itself. A WEDDING. Someone I went to high school with sent me a message to see if I would consider shooting her wedding. She knew I had no experience, and to be honest, when I first read her message, the only thought running through my mind was "No, I can't do that. I've only ever been to one wedding...I have no idea what the hell I'm doing." But, after some consideration, I realized this could be my foot in the door to new opportunities. What if this is how it starts? I made $300 off this wedding. And while the photos were okay, and useable, and some of them were even likeable (lol), I had a LOT to learn. And I wasn't even sure I wanted to - I just worked a 10 hour day, drove over a hundred miles, stressing every second of the way. People choose this as a career!? And like it!?
A year and a half later, in 2019, another high school friend asked me to shoot her wedding. I felt it was time to give it another try, since I had the opportunity and I was a broke college kid trying to make ends meet. But this time, I realized I needed way more preparation if I was going to do well. I signed up for a pricey (but worth it) posing and editing course online. And within a few days of taking these online courses, it started to click. This was actually my realization that the people posed perfectly in the photos you see online aren't just models that know exactly what to do and how to do it on their own - they are just being properly directed BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER! 😱
Imagine how silly I felt, looking back on all the other sessions I had done up till this point. The reason I hated taking portraits was because I didn't know how! The difference between my first wedding in 2018 and 2019 were night and day:
Still, looking back I can't help but critique myself. But how are you supposed to know what you know now, back then? I could've taken a million dollars worth of courses, but nothing truly prepares you to shoot wedding days like shooting wedding days. Over and over. All different kinds. All different types of weather, temperature, sunset times. Timelines, venues, churches, vendors. Every. Single. Wedding. Is somehow different. Which is one of the most beautiful parts about a wedding - it's as unique as you are. And it's always an opportunity for me to learn and grow - not only as a photographer, but as a person, too.
2020 reeked havoc on us all.
2021 brought many more portrait shoots, mostly couples and families. It was a nice side hustle, making extra cash on the side. I was working full time at a golf course handling their marketing and doing their photography. It was a dream that both my college degree and passion were coming together into one! I shot 5 weddings that year and 6 the next.
After 2022 ended, I was more determined than ever to make this work because I wanted nothing more than to do what I love full time. I wanted to work for me, myself and I, making my own money and schedule. I saw so many people online that did it and became crazy successful and I wanted nothing more than to be one of them. And May 1, 2023, I officially became a full time photographer, rebranded as REM Photography LLC. I became a member of The Knot and Wedding Wire, which exposed my business to way more potential clients looking to book weddings, and it paid for itself within the first couple months!
Once my last wedding of the year is complete this December, I will have completed 17 weddings for the year of 2023. I have tripled my business since just last year and met 17 new amazing couples and their families & friends. My passion brought me to Hawaii this year, I shot my first desintation portraits on the east shores of Oahu. And a couple months later, I lived my dream and was flown out to shoot my very first destination wedding in the deserts of Arizona.
Even writing this now, it's hard to believe how much growth can happen in such a short period of time. I am so grateful for my journey, even if it has been a long road to get here. I feel so confident with the future ahead of me, and I truly believe that if you follow your passions and dreams, no matter how hard or long it takes, it will always end up working in your favor.
Till next time ✌️
xoxo
Rach
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