I was showing a friend from high school the photos I took at a wedding when I was second shooting for Kristen Leigh. (She is absolutely fabulous by the way.) He told me that he was so surprised how much I've improved since my first wedding, especially with lighting and composition. We joked about it for a bit (he ended up telling me that the photos were so full of love it's nauseating), but then he began to tell me that some of our mutual friends had doubted if I'd ever make it as a photographer, especially since my studies were in psychology to begin with. Some said that putting so much money and time into it would just leave me penniless, but I was blowing their expectations right out of the water.

After the conversation, I kept on thinking about what he said about peoples' initial reaction, and about my decision to become a photographer. I knew at the beginning it was what I wanted and in certain ways needed to do. I started out, and I had no idea that being a photographer was so much more than just taking photos. Working for yourself means you have to be a business woman and determine your rules and boundaries yourself. You don't have a boss telling you your hours and your wages and to keep you in line. I think for me, that was the biggest obstacle. I can easily go out and take photos and learn new and better techniques, but running your own business definitely isn't a walk in the park. Little by little, I'm becoming more business savvy, and I can already tell it has been helping.

I know I still have a lot more to learn and further to go, but I'm excited to see where everything takes me. There may be a few bumps down the line, but I know that grazed knees won't keep me down.

-Becca

(By the way, that photo at the top was taken today in DC. The weather around here has been AMAZING lately, so I couldn't resist taking a walk while waiting for a shoot.)