How I Became An Asheville Photographer
Well this would be Part 2. If you read my first blog post, you know that I started my photography adventure as a ski photographer in Colorado. The next part is the returning to Asheville, NC part. I returned to NC and immediately was hired as a portrait photographer for a very large nationwide photography company. I traveled around NC, SC, and TN setting up portrait studios in different locations and would take appointments all day long doing sessions for families, couples, and individuals. My favorites were the sweet elderly couples that had stories to tell. These sessions were timed and I had to incorporate specific kinds of variety and have a specific number of poses to present to these clients just after photographing. I would show the clients the photos right then and there without any editing, so I had to be spot on with at least the framing. This job was so different from the ski photography job! Let's just say that nobody did a handstand at any of these sessions. I learned totally different skills here. This was indoor studio photography. It was more professional and corporate feeling. I did this job for about 3 years until covid ended it.
Also, about 5 or 6 months before covid, I added a side job that I absolutely loved. I got a side hustle as a newborn photographer. I would go to the hospital and see which families of newborns wanted sessions that day. Then I would schedule and deliver newborn and family photo sessions in the hospital rooms using indoor natural light. I would then go edit everything in a little office room and present my work to the families. Oh my God! I really loved being around those babies! I loved and appreciated each one, even the ones that weren't having it. I loved getting them into sweet little poses and calming and soothing them. I even got to photograph twins a few times! I learned so many new skills and tricks here too. Sadly, with covid this job ended too.
I had been doing photo sessions with Jaime Hadnagy Photography a little bit here and there during all that time. I didn't really put it out there too much though because I was so busy working for these other companies. Something magical happened though a few months after covid hit. People started inquiring a lot more for outdoor photo shoots with me. I ended up being super busy and enjoying every moment of it. I was like, "I love it! I love it! I want some more of it!" Out of all these experiences, doing my own photography business has been my favorite. I have to give it to these companies though, that I am truly grateful for all the training and practice I got. Unfortunately with the last two jobs, they didn't help my portfolio much because of copywright. I don't own any of those images and cannot share those here. So, yea I have years of intense experience. Seriously! Haha.
I did get the privilege of photographing newborns again this past fall. It happened to be triplets! I slapped on my N95 mask and was so there! That is my element. I really look forward to more newborn photo shoots. These sweeties are pictured here.
