How I Got Started In Photography

How I Got Started In Photography

I often find myself reflecting on how I got started in photography and am struck by the sheer chaos of it all. Many photographers I know have these beautifully linear origin stories—passions kindled in childhood, steadily nurtured over the years. But my path has been anything but straightforward.

My earliest memories of photography date back to the 8th grade. My parents owned a Canon AE-1, and I would often “borrow” it, sneaking off with some film to document school field trips. To say my photos were unremarkable would be kind. Most were littered with specks of dust because I was oddly fascinated with taking the lenses on and off without realizing I was inviting debris into the camera each time. Despite my lack of skill, I enjoyed the process—the tactile satisfaction of loading film, the anticipation of developing photos. It became a casual hobby I pursued sporadically through high school. Then, somewhere along the way, I stopped. I can’t pinpoint why, but by the time I graduated, the camera was left behind, and for the next 14 years, so was photography.

It wasn’t until 2014 that I picked up a camera again. At the time, I was married to a wedding photographer, and our relationship was unraveling. In a desperate attempt to salvage it, I turned to photography, hoping to bridge the growing distance between us. It didn’t save my marriage, but it reignited something in me. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with capturing moments and crafting images. Initially, I wasn’t very skilled—most of my pictures were candid snapshots taken while wandering around Olympia, Washington. But even then, I was drawn to the idea of photographing people, of creating something meaningful and evocative.

During that period, I was heavily active on Tumblr, marveling at the stunning imagery that filled my feed. I aspired to create work that could stand among those pieces, but I had no idea where to begin. Finding models was intimidating, and my lack of technical knowledge left me feeling out of my depth.

Everything changed in January 2016, after I moved to Los Angeles. My friend and roommate, Sydney, graciously agreed to model for me. It was my first real photoshoot with a person as the central subject, and I was both excited and terrified. Armed with a Canon 70D and a basic set of umbrella lights, I fumbled through the session, improvising everything from lighting to poses. Despite my inexperience, a few of the images turned out surprisingly well, and I was thrilled.

That shoot was a turning point. I began to understand how critical trust and collaboration are in the dynamic between a photographer and their subject. Sydney’s patience and willingness to let me learn through trial and error taught me lessons I still carry with me today. Though we’ve since lost touch, I’m deeply grateful for her trust during that early stage of my journey. Wherever she is now, I hope she’s safe, happy, and thriving.

Photography has never been a linear journey for me—it’s been a series of stops, starts, and unexpected turns. But those moments of chaos and discovery have shaped me, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”45″ display=”tile”]I wish these photos had survived in better quality, but alas I didn’t save RAW files back then. I didn’t even save photos back then; instead, I relied on Facebook to keep my photos.  A mistake to be sure, as both these photos were compressed saved images from my no longer active Facebook page.