For a long time I’ve toyed with the idea of starting my own photography business, but I’ve never had the guts to do it.  I know a lot of people think that just because they have a digital camera, or just because they have an SLR, that that means they’re capable.  But I just never felt confident enough to really go for it.

It all started in high school when I took a graphic design/art course that included B&W film photography.  That’s the whole reason I took the class!  I loved it.  Somewhere around that time, my parents gave me my first “real” camera – a Pentax Z-27.  I took SO many photos with that camera.  It lasted me all the way through college, a trip to France (where I took some of my absolute favorite photos), and the B&W fine art photography class I took at Colby.  Thanks to my wonderful professor and the AMAZING facilities (seriously, I have never seen a photo studio quite like it – it’s wonderful), I learned a TON about composition, proper exposure, developing, mounting, and presenting high quality photographs.  I still have my portfolio of hard copy black and white prints, done by yours truly, and I even have some of my mounted final prints…somewhere.  They need to be framed.

Paris 2004 (taken with my dad's digital camera)

Notre Dame, Paris. January 2004 (Pentax Z-27 film)

The Metro. Paris, France. January 2004 (Pentax Z-27 film)

All was wonderful with my love of photography and art (I was a studio art major – painting was my main focus, but if photography had been a choice, I would have done it).  However, it was about the same time I took my college course that digital photography was starting to filter into professional photography.  Equipment was getting cheaper, and computer editing was getting more robust.  Bummer for me – all those lovely skills gone to waste.

Except, not really.  All the principles still applied – expose it right the first time, don’t rely on cropping for a good composition, take your time but take lots, etc.  But there was a lot to learn.  And it intimidated the crap out of me.  Not gonna lie.  But I didn’t give up, I just kept taking pictures on my film camera and resisted going digital…until my job forced me to.  :-)  I got a dinky little point and shoot that sufficed for necessary job related photos, but secretly pined for something better.  I missed my SLR and the beauty it could capture.

Boundary Waters, MN (Canon P&S)

Then, my dad became my first real photography investor – he paid for my first digital SLR camera, a Pentax K10D, as a Christmas/birthday gift in 2006.  I agreed to pay him back (still haven’t fulfilled that promise…) and happily went on my way to geeky photographic bliss.  I was in luuuuuuurve.  I snapped pictures like crazy over the holidays, it was a blast.

Spring 2007. Amherst, MA (Pentax K10D)

Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne, MA. June 2007 (Pentax K10D)

About two months later, I went to visit friends at my alma mater in Maine and brought my camera with me and my arsenal of lenses (I think I had three at this point, dSLR kit lens, film SLR kit lens, and a long zoom cheapie Tamron that my mom had given me a few years before as a gift).  Took loads of pics, and my friend Jonathan then proceeded to ask me to photograph his wedding!  I was completely flattered, but fuh-reaked out of my mind.  I had no idea if I could actually handle it, but Fat (as he is known) was insistent that it would be fine.  I told him I didn’t want to be paid because I was worried my photos would suck, and that really, this was my gift to them.  He agreed, and plans were made for their June 2006 wedding.

In preparation, I just practiced like crazy.  I even used my roommate as a model at one point!  Thanks Kristen! I also acquired a flash and a diffuser, both confusing tools I had never used.  The flash baffled me.  I admit, it still kinda baffles me.  All of my experience before this had been natural light only, I was completely out of my league.  But I persevered, and I got some amazing photos at their wedding.  I was so pleased with how it turned out.  Now when I look back, I’m totally critical…and because of that, you don’t get to see any pics.  For now.

Fast forward a few months later, and another friend of mine asks me to photograph their wedding in December 2007!  I guess something is catching on.  With a little experience under my belt, I’m more okay with it this time and agree to do it, as long as they pay me a tiny little bit.  We do a fun engagement session in October (which was probably one of my FAVORITE photo sessions ever!) and I do their wedding in December.  Both super fun and pretty successful (see, I’m still critical!)

Scott & Colleen's engagement session - unedited (Pentax K10D)

Scott & Colleen (Pentax K10D)

Scott & Colleen (Pentax K10D)

They're hitched! Scott & Colleen 2007 (Pentax K10D)

Since then, I haven’t done as much photography.  Getting married and moving left little time for it.  But once settled into Grinnell, I’ve been able to do some here and there, and do some for my job.

Well, last week I asked the director of communications (or something like that) if I could be a photographer at Urbana.  He seemed positive about it, and asked if I could post a portfolio for him.

AND NOW I get to the point (you’re probably all breathing a sigh of relief since this has turned into a book).

I’m not necessarily going to start a business, but I am going to start an online gallery & portfolio that might have the ability to become something more.  Who knows what will happen, but I’d love to keep going with this passion that I treasure.

So here’s where I need your help.

I need to figure out what to call this thing.  Most photographers tend to name businesses after their name, and I generally like this idea.  But I’m up for creative suggests.  If I go by my name, then I have to finally decide between my full first name, and what everyone generally calls me.

I know, I know…this shouldn’t be a big deal. But it IS.  I want to know what you guys think.

Here’s some ideas you can vote on:

[polldaddy poll=1769036]

I’ll let you know when I decide and when my portfolio is up!

Related posts:

1. Budding Photographer
2. Addicted to Photoshop
3. Colleen and Scott
4. Wedding Bells
5. I Should Model