10 Years!!!

This was me ten years ago. I was finishing 31 years of being a classroom teacher in pursuit of a new career as a photographer.

Thinking I had the skills needed after taking numerous classes at the New England School of Photography, I applied for and landed a job I found on Craigslist assisting a local photographer. He took the image above while training me in his style. I quickly realized I was in way over my head and, in hindsight, I actually feel bad for him. Despite my best efforts, I didn’t know what I was doing.
While I learned a lot about running a photography business, I’m afraid he didn’t get as much out of the deal as I did. To my embarrassment, he soon realized that I wasn’t the help he was looking for, as I didn’t yet have the necessary skill set. When he let me go, I was bruised but grateful for the valuable lessons I had learned

After having my little pity party, I became determined to pursue my career as a photographer. My husband, as always, was my greatest supporter.
One of the key lessons I learned during my short time as a photographer's assistant was that clients don't just show up—you have to go out and find them. Determined to make it work, I took three steps:
First, I reached out to family, friends, and neighbors, asking them to take a chance on me. Many did, and it was incredibly rewarding. I knew I was doing what I loved, in my own style. Below are some of my very first clients.

I also partnered with a local preschool to do a portrait fundraiser for them. I am amazed that many of the same families that participated have stuck with me and I have photographed their families through the years and have done many of their sons or daughters senior portraits.

The third thing I did was to invest in a service to secure bookings. As they say, 'You gotta pay to play!' It was costly for many years, but it helped get my name out there. I still have clients today who regularly use my services from those original bookings. I haven’t had to pay for years now—they hire me on their own and refer me to others.
One of the rewarding outcomes has been my ongoing work with Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Harvard Medical School, which came about as a result of this service."

A a result of this booking service, I got to photograph former Patriot player Chris Hogan and his family........ 

..also, former Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh  and Maria Contreras-Sweet , former head of the US Small Business Administration.

I have had the opportunity to work for many differnt companies all around Massachusetts.

Weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are events I have done many of, but no longer do.

Theater, families, babies, pets, headshots, and branding photography are other areas I have dabbled in. Real estate photography is another area of photography that I regularly do and love.

At one of the corporate events I photographed in Boston, I had the opportunity to meet the Chief Marketing Officer at Dunkin' Brands. I showed him the pictures I had taken and mentioned that my family truly was a family that 'ran on Dunkin'.' This sparked a conversation that led to an exciting opportunity: he asked me to work on a photo project he had in mind.

He wanted me to recreate a photo taken at the original Dunkin' Donuts and also capture a color version at a new Dunkin' location down the street from the original.

It was a lot of work to make this come together, but totally worth it. My neighbor was able to connect me with some people who owned cars of similar make and models to the original cars. 

These were the two pictures that ended up being used in a convention for Dunkin Brands in Las Vegas.

During this time, I’ve worked on numerous personal projects to keep my creativity flowing and to continue learning. I’ve taken countless courses, both in person and online, and I keep pursuing new ones.

 My family has often been the subject of many of my and my husband’s photographic ideas, serving as models for our various projects.

My newest venture involved meeting a wonderful couple in Camden, Maine, and providing them with beautiful photos of their stunning surroundings. 

I created a beautiful album for them to keep, now and as a cherished heirloom for their family in the future. I am thrilled to have worked with and gotten to know a family that truly values photography and understands its importance in preserving family history.

I’ve also had the opportunity to showcase my work in a gallery in Maine, where I sold the above picture.

Picture by my friend, Margaret Williams

So, what are my takeaways from the last 10 years?

1. I’m confident that transitioning to a career in photography was the right choice. I love meeting and connecting with people.
2. Photography has allowed me to view the world around me in a more creative way, which brings me immense happiness. I’ve had two wonderful careers, and I feel blessed by this journey.
3. I’ve learned to trust my own vision and preferences rather than basing my work on others' opinions or trends.
4. There’s always more to learn. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and mastering photography has required hard work. I’m committed to continuous learning through courses and workshops, as technology evolves rapidly.
5. I love sharing what I have learned with others. I have gained some great friends through photography .
6. The support of my family and friends, especially my husband, has been invaluable.

If you’ve read this far, thank you for indulging me! I’m surprised to still be going strong after ten years, and your support means a lot. I plan to continue as long as I can.