Assignment number 1ish...Why Do I Want To Become A Photographer?

So I've finished the first three chapters of my photography  book, and let me tell you, it's brain over load for sure, and it's just the beginning. . . 


The first actual assignment I did was getting to know my camera... I thought I knew my camera like the back of my hand, and boy was I wrong. After an hour or so of pressing buttons and exploring different menus, I fell even more in love with JJ (my camera). I was very excited that I was introduced to her deeper side, because it's amazing! 


Now on to what I'm going to call my first assignment...Answering the big question of Why I Want To Become A Photographer? I'm also suppose to pull out at least 3 favorite photos that I have taken before reading the book, put them aside and go back to them after reading the book to see how my photography has improved, so I will also share those pictures with you :) 

Why I Want To Become A Photographer...

When I listen to a song that catches my ear, emotions are pulled from me, sometimes happy ones, sometimes sad ones, but nonetheless,  emotions that make me feel more then what I was feeling before I had listened to the song.


Photography has the same effect on me that a great song does. There are times when I look a photograph, and I can feel exactly what the photographer was feeling at the very moment they shot the picture. The first time I heard someone tell me they got emotional from looking at one of my photos, I couldn't run away from the fact that I have a gift to see the world through my own, built in, wide angled lens. I want to inspire people and I've found that my unique way of doing so, is through photography. I love making people smile, and what better way then with a camera in hand.  


If you asked me a month ago what I wanted to do with my photography, I would have told you I wanted to be a world renowned photography for National Geographic. But quickly my mind is changing. It's not that I don't believe I have what it takes to become that good, because I'm a believer that you can do anything you put your mind to, but I don't want to lose my love for photography.  Although in my heart I don't think the love will ever go away, but it's not something I'm willing to risk. I never want my gift to become "Just a job."


I love taking pictures, the way I feel when I'm behind a camera, capturing a moment that can't be relived is the most amazing feeling in the world. I would imagine it makes me feel the same way it makes a musician feel when they step on stage to sing a song they wrote. I get lost in it, my mind is clear, and for those few moments, I have no troubles and life is peaceful. 


I don't want photography to be my main job or my main source of income, I want it to be a hobby that I'm extremely good at. I want to be a very affordable photographer for families that can't afford ridiculously priced family portraits, or for a young married couple that wants their special day documented, but doesn't have the money to hire a professional photographer. I want to be as good as a professional, and that's why I'm doing this.  I want to produce memories for people, but I don't want them to have to pay a fortune to get that memory back on paper. One of the biggest rewards of this profession and/or hobby is making people feel good, and making them smile, and there is no amount of money that is worth that.


So now onto my favorite beginning photographs, I chose these because they each hold a great memory for me. . . 

This was in a small bar in Chicago that had AMAZING pizza
I love Chicago and I love their pizza :) 

I was on a road trip to Idaho with my cousin
Amy and my bestie Tyler, it was a "perfect"
kind of day... 

Amy walking on the UCSC Campus. It
was my last night, and she was taking me to the most
amazing view I've ever seen... <3 

I was driving with Amy and Marta in
Santa Cruz on our way to the boardwalk...it was
a magical day <3

My little sister and I had a "Sissy day"
it was perfect <3

Summer day+Ron+Fishing = Amazing 

Exploring downtown Chicago...I loved this
alley. 

Well peeps, that's all I have for assignment number one. I love you all!!! 

P.s. 36 Days, 8 hours and 22 Minutes until Christmas, but who's counting?  ;)

*Passenger Seat on repeat*

I've been laying next to Kenny for the past three hours studying my photography book. I would read a little, and he would let me explain to him what I was learning, that way it would sink in to my brain a little better. I was laying on my tummy and his arm was wrapped around me, it was warm and cozy. It was perfect. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better he fell asleep and I found myself falling in love with even more...I didn't think it was possible, but it was. Oddly enough I had just flipped the page to a new Chapter 

"Photographing What You Love"...

♥ Kenny's hand propping up my book ♥

Senior Fever Sneak Peek Round 2!

This is a little sneak peek of Chantels Senior Portraits. . .  

Senior Fever Sneak Peek. . .

The beautiful girl in these pictures is Mikiya Stowe. I've known her since she
was just a little girl, and let me tell you it was CRAZY taking her pictures
when it seems like just yesterday she was sitting on my lap watching
cartoons. <3  

Well, I have good news and I have bad news...The good news is that I've spent the past couple of days working on editing senior pics for some girls in my home town of Chelan and I've loved every minute of it. The bad news, I've misplaced my photography book, so my assignment posts will have to be put on hold of a couple of days, but have no fear, I will continue to blog.

I had a great time with three senior girls from Chelan (I can't believe it's been almost six years since I was senior!) We took TONS of pictures and had  lots of laughs! I feel so blessed to be a part of their senior year. I thought I would share a few of the photos from Mikiyas shoot. I promise there will be more to come....I hope you enjoy <3

Dream A Little Dream

This is the first picture that I took that
made me fall in love with the art of
photography <3 

Ever since I was little, I've been asked "Sarah, what do you want to be when you grow up?" and the only answer I could come up with was "I don't know, but I know I want to help people."

I still don't exactly know what I want to do when I do this so called "growing up thing" But what I do know is my want for helping has turned into a want to inspire people. I think I have found my gift. The tiny seed that was planted in my heart, is quickly growing into a beautiful garden, photography. I see life as a picture, I see literally anything as a potential photo. When I'm behind a camera, I feel like I have the ability to bring peace to this world.

So here is my mission and my goal for not only myself, but  for my family and friends that inspire me to be the best photographer I can be : I'm going to blog my whole journey. I can't afford an expensive art school, but what I can do is teach myself the trade, and what better way to share my experience with the world then blog it.

Here is the plan...I have my first digital photography book right next to me this very moment. Inside of it is the basic knowledge used by photographers today to be the best. At the end of every chapter are assignments and questions and I've decided I'm going to post my assignments on my blog as well as write about my experience of becoming an inspiring photographer.

Two years ago the thought of being a photographer hadn't even crossed my mind until one day I played with my cousins awesome camera and realized the high I got from snapping a picture was exhilarating. At first I thought it was just another little hobby I might dabble with, but when my cousin, the amazing photographer herself, said I had talent, it really hit home. A whole new door was open for me, and I was seeing life through a camera lens everywhere I went. A couple months went by, and I decided to invest in my camera, one of the many loves of my life. Her name is JJ, (the first initials of both my late father and grandmother) She is a beautiful Cannon Rebel XS. It was love at first snap with her. She now goes almost everywhere I go, even if it's just to the store. You just never know when you're going to have a "Damn, I wish I had my camera" moment. At first, I loved taking pictures of nature scenes and inanimate objects, and honestly taking pictures of people, for some reason, scared the shit out of me. As much as I still love taking pictures of things that can't judge what they look like when I'm done snapping their picture, I'm quickly falling in love with the art of shooting portraits. Two years later, photography is slowly starting to consume my life and I am loving every bit of it. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me, and I want to thank EVERYONE the believes in me so much, even when I stop believing in myself.

Amy-If it wasn't for you, I would have never even thought of the idea. Thank you so much for being my inspiration and one of my biggest fans, I love you so much. 

Cai- You have always believed in me, even when I doubt myself. I can't imagine walking this journey without you by my side. You're love and support is more than I could ever ask for from anyone. Thank you for being my best friend, and my best critic. I love you more than you will ever know. 

Joyce- You're love and friendship has inspired me more then you will ever know. I love you so much. Thank you for continuing to inspire me, even when your 1,000 miles away.  

Mom- I don't even have enough time or words to thank you for everything, I love you so much and thank you for being my biggest fan. 

Alison (mom)- Thank you for being amazing. I consider you family, and always have. I love you so much, thank you for all your love and support throughout all the years. I love you! 

Kenny-Thank you for loving me so much. And thank you for loving my talent too. You're the most supportive boyfriend a girl could ask for, and I can't wait to walk this journey with you.on

Sis- I love you so much. You are my true inspiration for everything I do in life. You're quite the little photographer yourself. I love you. 

Kellie-You have been such an amazing friend, thank you for letting me share my talent and love for photography with you and Mason. It means so much to me. I love you so much, thank you for your support and kind words. 

Gar-Bear- You're my little brother, and I love you so much. Thank you for always being there for me. You truly inspire me. 

Kacey and Jamie- I love you girls so much. Thank you for always being there for me no matter what. And thank you for always believing in me, 


To the rest of my family and friends, I love you all so much, and I can't imagine my life without you. You have all inspired me more then you will all know. You're all the butter to my bread, and the breath to my life.