Some of you may have noticed a shift in my Instagram feed as I have been creating a more story-telling and purposeful portrait feed. As my love for creating and picture-taking has been coming back to me I have been thinking about my past with this hobby. In fact, some of you may remember my first instagram account which was completely my weekend photography. I wanted to document briefly my memory of my artistic hobby with some highlight photographs which I treasure along the way.
The Beginning
Iphoneography - at fifteen
At the age of fifteen, I think I had an iPhone 5, I loved taking pictures. Photos of my friends, photos of my day, photos of myself, photos with set-up backgrounds. I had an account on instagram when no one I knew was on there, and I created. I created almost everyday, looking for the right lighting and angles… just to take a grainy iPhone capture, slap a filter on it to make it seem less grainy and post it to strangers.
My friend Avery joined me at the end of this journey, which I was excited and grateful for. We would hang out every weekend at a chosen location and take pictures with our phones.
My Canon Camera - at sixteen
I still remember the day I bought my camera. I was so excited and had been saving for it. I knew I was ready to take a higher quality photo and collect images of my life on another level. Avery and I went down to Lakefield and must have spent all day taking over a thousand photos. I was obsessed with capturing beautiful, natural portraits.
Lifestyle & Candid Photography - at sixteen
Soon after photographing consistently with my camera I wanted to capture things while they were happening as well as set-up-shoots. I would take my camera everywhere with me, on the edge of my seat seeing the beauty in everything.
A Passionate Hobby
Collaboratives - at seventeen
Gaining confidence and passion in my photography hobby we started reaching out with other individuals. Taking stunning portraits with and of other people we knew was an incredible opportunity in growing my passion in photography. At this time I wanted to capture everyone in every environment and edit to stunning outcomes. I see gaining experiences with others whether they were modelling/photographing or both is a true indicator of if your photography is truly popping! Because who wants to spend their time with you if they don’t believe it is going to turn a beautiful (and fun) outcome!
The 50mm - at seventeen
Buying the 50mm lens was a game changer. As a portrait focused photographer (if I could call myself that), this lens made night and day to my photographs. The images truly speak for themselves.
The Peaking of an Era - at eighteen
This was the end of every-weekend-photoshoots. Maybe it was because it was the end of highschool, maybe it was just time for a creative break. Avery and I took our last photoshoot for a long time. We didn’t know it would be at the time, but wow did our last shoot really end the era with a bang. We were back at the same destination as our first photo shoot we did with our cameras, golden hour in the fall. Our camera skills and modelling skills at a high point as well as the golden light helping a ton.
Lifestyle Photography
Subtle Lifestyle - at nineteen
At this point I picked up my camera maybe four times a year. I started enjoying more simplicity in photos - landscapes, nature, lack of detail, subtle portraits. I think this represents in a way this low point in my life. While I was nineteen my moods were really low. This melancholy version of myself or not being in tact with myself at all, changed my photography style, if I even picked up the camera.
Travel Photography - at twenty
Now I only pick up my camera when I travel. I travelled quite a bit this year, however 3 times is a lot of travel but only very little photography. I still held a fairly simple style, but at this point I began to believe that the passion was over. I was not truly happy with any of my outtakes and didn’t use the camera much anymore either. With these feelings I even began to feel that it was too much of a hassle to pack for trips. I sold my camera. I bought a much lower quality compact point and shoot for travel.
Today
Todays Lifestyle & Travel Blogging - present - twenty two
How could I know only a year and a half later I would nosedive back into my passion for photography? I came home for the summer, no working, travelling and visiting. My spare time spiked my creative energies and I began creating. I began creating and learning even harder than I did before. Bless my friend Avery who still had her camera and we came together and created. She’s letting me borrow her camera for at least a few months which is going to be a beautiful opportunity - and I truly hope that I keep up with it this time. There is something magical in creating something beautiful to document that exact time in your life.
For everyone who has been here on the ride, thank you.
Stay tuned!
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