I'm a Photographer...

I've been taking pictures seriously since college.  Of course, I had a terrible camera and didn't even know the settings on my point and shoot.  But I carried it faithfully everywhere and documented every event I considered important.  Then I was the unofficial photographer for every opera, play production, etc. that I was involved in.  My love of taking pics continued through my 20s, as I merrily took pics of everyone I loved.  

Diagnosed with serious illness over the last few years, I found myself bedridden in early 2011.  I was bored to tears...doing homework for nursing classes was something, but I couldn't do my beloved theatre and couldn't work.  I'm an extremely social person by nature, and this sitting in bed was awful.  My husband Brian bought me a "real" camera...a Canon Rebel DSLR.  For the first few months, I shot completely on automatic, having no idea what any of the buttons or settings were.  I was just thrilled with the image quality.  Then Brian asked me to take his headshots for his playwriting website.  I did and really enjoyed working with him.  Then I wondered what I could do with the more advanced settings.  


So for the next month, I buckled down and learned what all the buttons meant, what aperture and shutter speed were, and how to focus manually.  It was an amazing experience.  

My long, lonely days in bed weren't so long or lonely with my trusty camera.  I shot anything and everything.  I had Facebook friends post daily challenges that I could do around the house...it gave me not only something to do but an opportunity to practice manual focus, and learn about light and angles.

I got the idea to start my own business.  I gathered several friends as guinea pigs, and from June to October, took many, many practice sessions.  People were pleased with their shots, and I was having the time of my life.  As tired as I was, I could generally handle a 2 hour photoshoot as long as I got back into bed for the editing process and didn't do anything for the rest of the day.  And sometimes the next day.  :)

I launched Gilded Lily Photography in October 2011.  For the last few months, I've done 30 headshots, a wedding, two engagements (booking two weddings for the coming year in the process), a fairytale photo shoot, a glam girl shoot, numerous kids and families and holiday cards...and it's been a wonderful, rewarding, fulfilling experience for me.  

I've always been the girl to make lemonade out of lemons...this experience has been the entire lemonade stand. :)  I have high hopes for the coming year, and am extremely excited to focus on couples, engagements, and weddings.  I love love...I think it's because I live my own fairytale every day with Brian.

I couldn't do any of it without the incredible love and support of my husband, my family, and my friends.  I can't wait to expand my business, and blog about the experience here.  I have my very own Photo Angel...an area pro photographer who is everything I aspire to be in the wedding world.  She's amazing. :)