I thought long and hard about how I was going to announce this. So, here goes:
I am THRILLED to formally announce that I am now training with Kristen Taylor Photography to become a full-fledged wedding photographer.
I met Kristen when I was planning my own wedding back in 2007. Even though a 2008 wedding was not that long ago, I remember struggling to find a wedding photographer who emulated the look I was going for. Classic, modern, editorial. There were not as many photographers on the scene at that time and I was ecstatic when I found Kristen. My search ceased immediately.
Flash forward four years later. Not only do I still LOVE Kristen’s style, but now I have an appreciation and respect for what she brings to wedding photography. And so, I am spending the 2012 season both assisting and 2nd shooting for KTP in effort to become a KTP Associate Photographer. This means that I will be the lead photographer, shooting my own weddings exclusively with KTP beginning in 2013.
I have thought about making the leap into wedding photography for some time now, and I even have three weddings already on the {kgP} books for 2013, but having a full time job in Corporate America always gave me pause. I wanted to shoot weddings regularly, but I also wanted to keep shooting portraiture, as I truly love it. I just didn’t know how I was going to find the time to DO. IT. ALL. Shoot, cull, edit and design custom products, all within a reasonable time frame without pulling my hair out in the interim.
And so, when Kristen presented me with this opportunity, I was both honored and terrified. Honored because she sees raw talent that she is willing to cultivate as an extension of her own brand. Terrified because I had worked SO hard at building a name with {kgP} and I did not want to give up my own business to begin working for someone else. The business aspect is just one of the many things I truly love about working for myself.
So, I let this resonate with me for quite some time. I asked a zillion questions (in true kg form, which made me wonder if she regretted this decision. Ha.). And every answer led me closer to what I knew I wanted my answer to be: yes.
Yes, because I get to continue shooting portraiture and grow {kgP}. Yes, because I get to learn from one of the best in the industry, which puts me on the fast track. Yes, because I get to be a part of a couple’s MOST SPECIAL day. And, yes, because turning over the images to Kristen at the end of the wedding day and allowing her to do the rest gives me the best of both worlds: shooting && time for me.
I’m also VERY excited to blog about this experience. I do not yet know what shape these blog posts will take. I want to respect both the bride && KTP and not post anything specific about their day without explicit permission. I assisted my first wedding with Kristen last Saturday and took this picture of the GORGEOUS church during the ceremony in Hamtramck with my iPhone.
Perhaps this is what the images will be for these posts. Something simple that tells a story. We all know I love my Instagram (now available for Android btw!) anyway and will use any excuse I can to post my images.
We’ll see where this journey takes me in blog form, but for the time being, I’ll settle for the announcement. I’m SUPER excited about this endeavor and to share it with all of you along the way. Great things are happening. GREAT. THINGS. xo
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