How did I get into this business? At just about every client meeting, I get asked “How did you get started in this business?”  People are perplexed as to how I got started in such a creative industry, when am a full-time nurse at an amazing hospital! Well let me tell y’all!

I have ALWAYS been the girl with the camera. For realz.  I loved taking photos, everywhere and anywhere of anything.  I went to university for 5 years, and continued to be the girl with the camera, but never really did anything with it. Right after I graduated in 2010, one of my best friends Jackie and I decided to take the most epic road trip of all time to and through California.  Little did I know that that trip would change my life in more ways than one. We were poor students, just graduated and jobless, so we had to be creative with how this was going to be the most epic roadie of all time, on a shoestring budget.  Then we had a friend tell us about a lil’something called “Couch Surfing.” (www.couchsurfing.org).  If you don’t know about, don’t be quick to judge… go check it out! We were initially skeptical about sleeping on random couches in strangers homes…. But we took a chance and had an adventure!  The very first person we stayed with was an incredible host named Phillip Van Nostrand (http://www.phillipvn.com/).  As soon as we got to his place, I noticed the unreal photographs all over his walls and the dream camera on his couch. Little did I know, that I had just met my photography mentor.

Throughout our time with Phil, he taught me little tidbits about how to shoot in Manual, composition and editing.  I was captivated.  I couldn’t stop thinking about taking photos!  He let me use his Canon 5D Mark II for a little while, and oh my goodness it was love at first site.  I now shoot with the Canon 5D Mark II, and it is my babyyy!  We left our first couch surfing experience regretful that we hadn’t learned about couch surfing wayyyyyy sooner for our previous travels. Moreso, we were just  excited to continue our journey, and I was excited to start snapping some awesome photos!

When we got back from the most epic roadtrip of all time, my parents had bought me my first DSLR camera for Graduation (Thanks Mum and Dad!!!), and well… that is what led me here! That November I went back to Cali to visit my family there, and I also saw Phil!  This time, he bought me my first portrait lens (Canon 50 mm, f1.8).  Then he continued to teach me the basics of photography.  He was oh so patient while I learned how to shoot in manual while asking a billion questions. Below are some of the  VERY first photos I took with this lens in Cali right after I got it. The very first places we went were a record store, and then a dark antique shop:

In February of the following year, Phil asked me to come back to California and Second Shoot for an engagement shoot and two weddings.  Prior to this, I only dreamed of being a wedding photographer. I went to California, and had the most amazing time photographing three beautiful couples, Kim and Matt, Emily and Steffan and Alessandra and Steve.  You can view these photos on my Facebook page:

Emily and Steffan: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219834641382855.64499.217604491605870&type=3

Kim and Matt: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219838794715773.64500.217604491605870&type=3

Alessandra and Steve: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.220665371299782.64805.217604491605870&type=3

And because every blog post is better with photos… here are some of my favourites:

I had SO much fun at all three of these shoots, and knew I found my passion.  I loved working with couples… capturing the emotions of their relationship.  We laughed, cried and danced a lot.  It was pure BLISS! The rest is history my friends…   If someone had asked me after that first wedding, where I saw myself in one year… it would not have been here.  I am here to tell you that if you love something, anything is possible… really.  17 weddings later, and 20 on the books for next year, it is POSSIBLE! Take chances… Call me a cheeseball… I am okay with that! 😉 And that is how it all started! Stay tuned for Chapter 2, where I talk about how things built when I got home from California!

And I will leave you with this: