When I was younger, I'd love to say I wanted to be a kid photographer but I didn't. The only photographer in my town (what a gig - the only photographer in the entire town!) had us sit very still and posed, and then hid and took a photo with a giant camera. I now wonder if it was a medium format or what the hell type it was. I seem to recall him ducking under a sheet to take it but that makes it sound like it was 1810.
I took a lot of photos growing up but they were always a bit random - as kid photography tends to be. I was lucky enough to travel a lot when I was in my early twenties and I took and developed a ton of photos. I knew I like some more than others, but I wasn't sure why.
I then spent the next ten years in corporate insurance mostly as a product liability underwriter. We traveled quite a bit during that time, especially while we were in London, and I continued to enjoy taking photos.
Insurance
After ten years in insurance I knew that I wanted to try something different. It's not that I didn't like my job, but it was more that if I spent another 40 years doing liability insurance I would not be happy with myself. But... what.
Next, I took photography courses at Concordia. I thought it would be the thing I was looking for. Unfortunately for me, it was focused on studio photography with backdrops and lighting. Great training for when I do use lighting but not so good in other ways. I just did not click with it.
Kid Photographer
It was not until I was researching photos for use on my old blog Roasted that I came across what is now known as lifestyle photography. A photo of a boy running. The exact photo eludes me but I remember there was such life to it. His excitement was palpable, and we caught a glimpse of his emotion.
Instantly, I decided this was what I was going to do for the rest of my days. Being a kid photographer had me by the heartstrings. And not just kid photography but kid photography with emotion, movement and candidness. Not looking at the camera for every shot. But real connection.
Thank-you to the hundreds of families that have trusted me with their beautiful family photography over the past five years. Each and every session has been a pleasure and a real connection.
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