You know the one friend in every group, that makes it their life mission, to nag you to death, so they can have the pictures y'all took earlier that day? Yep that's me!!! I have always loved people, loved pictures, loved memories, loved having them, looking at them, putting them into folders, loved photography in general; It was something I spent a lot of time on, something I was naturally interested in, definitely drove a lot of people nuts :)
When I joined MCC, DSLRs were a common sight. And first year me was terrified of them. They were expensive, they weren't mine and I was scared that I might do something to damage it hence I didn't touch them. And I wouldn't have at all, if God had not sent someone to put a DSLR in my hands. When I was in my second year, a friend of mine pushed his camera in my hands and gave me no choice but to take pictures. The instant I clicked the shutter button I knew. You remember how Harry Potter felt, the first time he rode a broom? I felt the exact same way. This was something that came to me naturally, I didn't have to try at all and it just filled my heart with joy. I couldn't stop, I couldn't put the camera down. And no I wasn't any less scared but I was super happy and it dominated.
This was me the very first day I held a DSLR!!!
And this is one of the first few pictures I shot
Would you believe me if I told you I used the camera on automatic for an entire year because I didn't know anything else? And that I didn't dare change lenses because I was scared that I might twist it the wrong way? Oh man looking back, things seem so bizarre. How did a girl like that become a girl like me? I'm telling ya man, wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for Jesus. So I start shooting in college and the girl who wouldn't touch a DSLR in her first year becomes an event photographer in her second year. When I was in my third year, I was requested to be the photographer for college events. My friends requested I take their pictures and I was known in the department for my photos.
Even then, even when I head over heels in love with photography, never did I think I'd have photography for a career. A few months after I finished college, in 2019 I was pursuing another career path and in Aug, I thought to myself, why not get a DSLR? I was taking pictures and the DSLR would help me take better pictures. So I asked my brother and he got me my first ever DSLR and I was in love. Still am :) He didn't just get me a camera, it was also him who suggested that I do photography professionally. The idea did not even occur to me until then but I was all in! I remember feeling the happiest ever! This was Nov 2019. I quickly realised that I couldn't do this on my own and needed help from other photographers, I needed education. I looked for it and tried learning from a couple of people. In Jan 2020 I was an intern at Collida studios, Sembakkam. I plucked a bit of courage in Feb 2020 and told my friends that I was now doing photography full time and they can book shoots with me (despite the fact I had absolutely not a clue what I was doing lol). In March 2020 I joined Mommyshotsbyamrita and I was there only a week before we had to close because of the lockdown. Now I was home, still in love with my camera and with the idea of doing it professionally but I needed education and I was scared. Like terrified kinda scared, to pursue it as a profession. My plan was to work at a photography company. (Yep that was my brilliant plan) But God had much muchhhh better plans and I'm so glad He did!!!
The lockdown changed my life! Literally.
When we were all in lockdown, I started toying with the idea of doing it part-time. God led me to this amazing wedding photographer and educator called Katelyn James. I found her in the July of 2020 on Instagram (I still don't know exactly how I found her) and I felt like I was home. She was everything I wanted in a photographer. She was the first person that I met that loved natural light just as me and tried her best to not use artificial light, again exactly like me (and quickly I discovered that there was an entire world out there that used only natural light and I was more at home!) She was one of the absolute best in her industry, she was a momma and she was a luxury wedding photographer and I felt at home with her. She had all these free pdfs and free webinars and stuff and they...oh my goodness!!! They absolutely changed the game for me! I learnt so much that finally, finally, finally, I was ready to have my own business. Her education was so useful that I was a sponge!!! I would absorb every piece of education I could get, I redesigned my website, my pricing kit, I had templates in place. I mean I changed every single thing! I became a completely different, much better photographer and I was ready. My darling poor friends, were a pillar of support. They proof-read all my stuff (pricing guide, agreement, website) a million times for me (Guys I love you!!!)
A few weeks later, in August 2020, restrictions were relaxed and I started doing portfolio shoots. Thank God for a house with a huge beautiful garden!!! September rolled by and I was doing more shoots. In October, I was planning for November, because I always plan ahead but when I invited people to be my models for November, it didn't work out.
I prayed, trusted God and let go.
You know what happened? I started booking!!! In October !!! In October, not November!!!
And I have been booking since!!!
Speak of God's amazinggggg waysss!!!
Oh man I wish I could tell you every single thing that has changed within me, how I've matured as a person and as a photographer and how God has been absolutely amazing!!! I went from being a person without zero goals, no ambition, being clueless, to someone who's head is full of ideas and stuff, who's so driven that she can't stop working, who has so many goals that she needs to write them down!!! I don't recognise myself, but I like this me much better!!!
My first booking was from the someone I didn't expect at all, I had a portfolio shoot turn into a booking, I had someone book me from Facebook the very same day that I was sulking about not getting anything from Facebook!!!
I've had so many people tell me that they are impressed with my work and that I'm their first choice when they have the opportunity to book a session.
God always always ALWAYS sends me encouragement exactly when I need it!
Today,I am in a place that I didn't even dare to be. I have amazing people doing everything they can to support me, I have a beautiful camera and an amazing laptop!!!
But you know who puts a hugeeeeee smile on my face and sooo much joy in my heart? Jesus. He is my everything!!! EVERYTHING!!!
Discovering that I am a photographer is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I am who I am and where I am solely because of God and I can't thank Him enough for it. For guiding me to discover my talent, for being there for me through my fears, tears and anxiety, for sending encouragement every time I needed it and for giving me every single person that I hold dear and treasure so much. It is all because of God and I will forever grateful to Him.
My friend who introduced me to photography, my brother who has been everything I needed and Katelyn James who is just the best are the most important people in my story.
My Help came from the Lord, The Maker of Heaven and Earth, it always has and it always will.
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