As amazing as it sounds, photography was not a passion I thought of pursuing in my life.. at first. I was mostly into horses, music and traditional art... but never photography. When I was in my teenage years, my father purchased a fully automatic Nikon film camera. I was always behind the camera because I figured it out right away. I got good at taking pictures so I was
always behind the camera when it came to family functions. At that time, it was only something to do when family came over to visit or someone was having a party, that's all.
Time passed and I eventually purchased a horse and began training in dressage. I always had a camera with me (my father's) and I began taking some pictures of friends in the show ring and around the barn, just for fun, not really for anyone else to see. My camera was inferior when it came to fast action, but I could get the good angles and composition, as well as just the overall balance that made the "look" of a good, professional photo. Still, it was not really a passion, it just seemed to me that I knew how to work the camera better than most.
I had never really seen a professional photographer's work until I met Susan Sexton. I was to show my horse for the first time and I wanted to make sure I had it photographed. When I saw the proofs, I was in amazement at the spectacular photos. It was then when everything clicked... I wanted to be a professional equine photographer and produce that caliber of photography... and I was determined from that day on. I just didn't know what was possible. So then I bought my first digital SLR camera, a Canon Rebel XT and I began shooting everything I could and I became great at it. I then began my business, "Fire & Earth Photography & Design."
Since then I have purchased another camera, the Canon Mark III, and I have been photographing several shows, misc events and private sessions throughout the Midwest. Photography is now a passion and I am expanding beyond just equine... photographing other animals, as well as people, architecture and creating artistic photos. I am truly having a great time developing and pursuing my passion that I never knew was there. I love to experiment and create something new and being a graphic design major, I am able to easily use digital programs to manipulate and create new and fresh ideas out of my photos. I am constantly trying to learn new things by talking with fellow photographers and taking courses whenever my schedule allows. I believe that you can never stop learning and you will never know everything!
I have always wanted to contribute something to the world that will have people remember my name... I just never knew I could do it with just a picture.
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