I didn’t really know I wanted to be a photographer. I wasn’t one of those people who took pictures all her life and just knew I had to make this a career. I wasn’t thinking about it, dreaming it or even saying to myself “one day when I’m a world famous wedding photographer”…… although now in my dreams I do that!
I did take pictures of my kids a lot but just because I love them and have none of me as a child. I owned a cleaning company and was making a good living off of one client and doing pretty good. It paid our mortgage and although I hated working every night I was thankful for it. I did that for about 4 years. In June of 2010 the client informed me that they needed to find someone else because they were having financial problems and they could only pay about half of what I was charging. I was devastated. It was the beginning of the hardest year of my life. We almost lost our home. As soon as I lost the business I asked God “What am I suppose to do now? I knew I wasn’t going to get a job and put my kids in daycare that was for sure. As I was praying and thinking about it I just thought maybe I could be a photographer. I have no idea why that popped into my head but I do know that it had to have come from God. It had to because I had never thought of it before then. I had a little Nikon d40 and shot on auto for crying out loud and now I want to be photographer and to top it off I wanted to be a wedding photographer! I mean I felt this deeply in my soul! In July of 2010 I started researching cameras and after choosing a few wrong ones I decided to go all out and buy a 5d markii. The first photographer I found on Facebook was the lovely and talented Damaris Mia. Besides asking her countless questions and basically stalking her, I asked her how I should go about finding someone to 2nd shoot for. Diana Marie Photography saw my post. She let me shoot a wedding with her 5 days after I got my camera. I shot the whole wedding in manual! That is how I know this is what God wants me to be doing. Since July of 2010 I have begged, stalked, and bothered more photographers than I care to admit and I want to thank them for taking the time to help me along this journey. I have shot at least 27 weddings and countless engagements, seniors, and some families. Most of the time I take pictures that come out so good I know that God is with me because no one can get that lucky! I know with all my soul that this is what I am suppose to be doing. It took me 42 years to know.
Being a photographer has been one of the biggest blessing of my life. I have met some of the most amazing people and made more friends than I could ever hope for. I pray that I continue on the path that God has for me and that 2012 is a successful year for all us! Thank you so much for stopping by!
~Toni
Since my son is getting married soon here is a picture of him and Kendra!
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