I never imagined I’d be a photographer.
It always felt like a dream that belonged to someone else — someone with better gear, more confidence, or a “safer” path. I used to look at the creative world and think, *That’s beautiful… but not for me.*
I tried so many other things. I launched small businesses that never quite took off. I explored paths that fizzled. And each time, I thought maybe I just wasn’t cut out for “doing my own thing.”
But deep down, I’ve always been an artist. Since I was little, creating has been part of who I am. Still, I was raised on the idea that art wasn’t a secure career. I was told to pursue something “safe” — something stable. So I went to college, tried to follow the path I thought I *should* take. Then Covid hit, and everything shifted. I ended up dropping out, burnt out and uncertain.
Funny enough, it all started with product photos. I had my own little shop and needed content, so I started snapping pictures. Slowly, I began to realize I *loved* the process — the way light could tell a story, how a single image could hold emotion.
I started out with a Nikon D3000 and a kit lens (yes… humble beginnings!). Looking back, I used to be embarrassed by that, but now? I’m proud of it. Because this journey has taught me that the gear doesn’t define you. It’s not about what camera you use or how much it cost — it’s about how you connect, how you see people, and how you make them *feel* in front of your lens.
This isn’t just about photography.
It’s about proving to myself that the thing I thought was impossible… was actually already inside me.
And now I get to call it my job.
What a gift.
