How it started vs how its going
As the dust settles after the busy season and with the start of a new year, I am always looking for ways to expand my business and further my reach to new people and different places. I figured why not start a blog and reflect on a specific couple (now family of 4) that trusted me in the beginning of my photography business back in 2020 as my first post.
I began learning photography my freshman year of high school and took some classes while I attended community college and really dove into Youtube and other local photographers’ minds. And I then figured that was enough to qualify me to start my own business as a photographer in San Diego during a pandemic.
My very first paid shoot was back in November 2020 and their names were Katie & Josh. Katie incidentally is my best friend’s sister. Katie knew I was starting out and asked me to do her and her husband’s holiday card photos. The day after Halloween I met up with Katie and Josh at a local Fallbrook park called Live Oak Park in San Diego County, not far from where Katie grew up, and I did their photos on my Canon 6D mark ii with a 35mm 1.4 lens. 4 years and hundreds of shoots later, I still remember that day with the newly weds and their sweet dog Honey very well. I remember it because of how much fun I had and also how orange I edited their photos, really trying to hone in on “warm styled editing” and not understanding that sometimes less is more. But regardless, I was so thrilled with how the photos turned out and how much Katie and Josh loved them!
November 2021 rolls around and Katie reaches out and asks me to do their holiday cards again! This time, we went up to the mountains in Idyllwild, about 45 minutes from Temecula. The couple also had an announcement to make and wanted to do so through the photos!
November 2022 and this time Katie and Josh brought their newest addition! This year we went to a spot in Murrieta Glen Arbor Park that has beautiful trees and a very woodsy vibe that is great for Fall photos.
November 2023 we went to a reserve called Santa Rosa Plateau just north of Temecula Valley for photos. This was also the same day I was screamed at and harassed by a park ranger, you can probably guess why by looking at the photos, but that is a story for another time.
2024 and the most recent shoot I have done for Katie and Josh’s expanding family and it was at Sykes Ranch Park in Murrieta. I sit here writing this grateful for the ones who have stuck with me. I love seeing the evolution of Katie and Josh’s family through the evolution of my photography style. I never expect for them to call me for photos every November but when they do, I am forever appreciative.
