Twenty five months ago, I made the best professional decision I've ever made. The decision was to quit my job, or to be fired.
I chose to quit. And with nothing but each other, my love and I started over.
And from that day - September 20, 2010, I've dedicated my life, my time and my mind to becoming a photographer. Those first nine months, after I quit were rough. We had the support of family but we made no money. None. I worked at a wedding venue serving drinks and Kesh was still full time at uni, finishing her degree in fine arts. We ate cereal for dinner but I never questioned our direction.
I always knew we'd get here. I knew because I saw things differently. I started to see this world and the people in it, with completely new eyes. Through leaving behind the mundanity of my past and allowing myself the time to create, I found the most beautiful things - and they were always in the most simple places. And I knew because He who gave me my eyes was helping me take this journey. I really believe that.
Family is what I knew and so that's where I started - family photography. My blog is filled with weddings now but I still shoot families when I have the time.
Last week, we were in Hobart for a session of
the nursery. During the workshops, I talk about how it doesn't make sense that a guy in his mid twenties, with no experience in the industry booked fifty family sessions (and almost as many weddings) in his first twelve months of being in business. It doesn't make sense because, up until five months ago, I'd never had my own family. But here I was trying to capture yours and the intimate relationships and emotions within it.
One of the other things I talk about is how my real talent isn't even photography - it's people.
The day before our workshop, I met Anna, Simon and Sage in Bellerive. A few things I saw immediately were that Anna and Simon were properly in love. I noticed how Anna and Simon cared for Sage - how she was their everything. I saw a tenderness in Anna's approach to life and the people in hers.
I'm so thankful I can see these things now.
When my little family travel back to Tasmania to drive the whole way around its magical shores, we will be spending time with our beautiful and in real love friends, Anna, Simon and Sage. Thank you for the jam guys. Raspberries on toast never tasted so good.
