“I grew up watching my dad, working the camera day in and day out. My dad is my guru. He is the reason that I am who I am. He’s always been there for me, I mean I know that’s what dads do but he honestly does go above and beyond. He made me believe that being different was a good thing, that even if my hair doesn’t look the same as other girls, it still looks just as good. I didn’t just learn photography when I was in my 20’s, instead I have been learning it since I was a kid – when my dad used to give me my hand camera wherever I go out. I spent most of my days riding my bicycle, chasing butterflies around me or anything that caught my eye! I would also experiment with the camera angles. Exploring and capturing images around me was an incredible feeling. It was always fresh and interesting. Back in school I was this student who was more outside the class than inside it. I was an athlete who was chasing tournament after tournament and acing them, and it was while I was in my high school, that the district level tournament was supposed to take place.
Despite the track record I had and the competitions I won, my name did not make it to the list. That was the first brush I had with nepotism. I was heartbroken and in pain for not getting to follow my dreams. But it was my father and my friends who cheered me up. I picked up his camera and started exploring the world with it.
The lens soon became my third eye, and I started exploring a career in fashion and product photography. While the world looks all glossy from up here, I love that I am able to be creative every single day and make a decent living doing so. I’m a commercial fashion and product photographer now. I get paid to do what I love. Not being tied down to a 9-to-5 job is something many aspire to achieve but also fear. As you may already know, freelancing comes with the great price of instability. There may be times where there is no work and times where there is an overwhelming amount. It took some time to get it dialed in but with the proper budgeting it’s not bad at all!
It has it’s fair share of challenges. But I think, over the years, I have changed as a person, become more mature, and ready to take heartbreaks. And with the camera in hand and my friends by my side, the world is truly my oyster!”
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