Shutter Sisters

A Healing

By

 

“I was born with a camera in my hand“, is a common phrase said by some of the best photographers.  Unfortunately, this is  not a common phrase for me.  Photography was something I had always loved, even as a little girl posing My Little Ponies, but photography came in a different way for me.

As I grew older, got married and had children, my life was put on hold to be a stay-at-home mom.  Although many sacrifices came with this job, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  A little over 3 years ago my husband bought me my first DSLR camera.  I started off by taking photos of tutus that I was making and selling but found that I was getting more attention for my photos than I was for the actual tutus.  Over time, I started to get more and more requests to take photos of friends and family.  Shortly thereafter, like a lot of other people in this country, my husband lost his job.  This came as a huge sadness to our family as we lost our home, the majority of our belongings and even our beloved dog, Dougie.

This change in our life is what gave me the opportunity to finally go after what I loved: photography.  The passion to fight to make the business a success came with the struggle, hardship, hurt and pain of this new change.  I loved photographing and capturing the happiness in families, the joys of newborns, the true love of weddings and the success of graduating seniors.  Photography is what made me happy and healed a lot of fears and frustrations that were occuring in my own life.  Being able to photograph all these great moments in other people’s lives reminded of what is truly important. 

This is now my business and I am loving every moment of it.  Running your own business can consume you but I have been blessed with meeting so many amazing photographers and clients, many who I can now call friends.

What has photography done for you? Today, show us how much you love photography and show us the photos you love.

Images and words courtesy of the lovely and talented Desiree Niumata of Desiree Niumata Photography.  You can also find her on Facebook and her blog, as well. 

Comments

  1. Photography should me a different look of life… too many to choose from to pick one to linkdump here. See my blog for that

  4. your story is so inspiring and courageous, I am so grateful to have had the chance to read it!
    photography for me is a way to become more aware of what is around me, of appreciating it more, and also a powerful means to communicate and share what I see, my perspective, with those I love and with so many wonderful people in the online community.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/mar_s/5911544911/lightbox/

  8. Photography, for me, started as a distraction from the pain of struggling to get pregnant. I found that when I focused on photography I was happy and didn't think about the frustration and depressed associated with having fertility issues.

    We still aren't pregnant but as of last week, I officially opened my photography business. It's the first time in a while that I feel like I have accomplished something and I am truly proud of myself. Photography saved me.

    http://www.rebeccaleighphotos.com

  9. It's always been a hobby, but a couple of years ago I took it to the next level. However, I struggle with confidence every day. Luckily I have had a great mentor and another great friend who also recently took up photography. They are both encouraging and supportive. I couldn't do it without that. Other than that, photography unleashes my creativity and artistic side, which balances me out.

  11. I love your picture! and am inspired by the challenges you faced and the ability to make something of value and that you love out of the ashes 😉

    thanks
    g

  13. What an inspirational story! It's wonderful to hear about people coming through hard times. Kudos to you and your family.

    Photography for me has meant finally finding my path. I've been blessed with a wonderful husband and two healthy and amazing daughters so it's not like I was unhappy before I found photography, not at all. But I always felt lost as far as what I truly wanted to do for a living. I didn't know what my passion was, what lit the spark. My boring office job was killing my insides without me even noticing. Then I found photography and it's like I had been given new eyes, new life. I can't describe it but photography makes me SO very happy. I am still at my boring job and I have yet to make any money with my photography but it feels amazing to finally know in which direction I am supposed to be going and what I want to accomplish. My only regret is that I did not find it sooner. Here are a few images I love:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5841069969 Ferris Wheel
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5679104854 Peace, Love and Balloons
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5661034421 A retro selfie
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5629713267 The house from UP
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5549329646 Vintage Spring
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/libertadleal/5505214100 In Bloom

  14. While it is never a good thing to hear about tough times, this story is so uplifting and inspirational! It is so wonderful to hear when someone takes a new venture on in his/her life and runs with it and comes out successful at the other end. Wonderful, wonderful!

  16. Thank you so much to the whole Shutter Sisters Community. I have read each and every comment and they were all so heartfelt. I am a strong believer in everything happens for a reason, and although we are no where near back on our feet… I am doing what I Love. I know there are people out there that want it ALL… That don't even realize what they have everyday… At the end of my day, I don't have it all, but I do realize that I'm with my family and we are all healthy and strong. I know I can't crumble under pressure… I know that I can make it… Thank you all so much for taking the time to write comments …that meant the world to me….

  17. Thanks for the inspiration to get creative in difficult times… and for this moment to stop and reflect.
    Photography has allowed me the opportunity to step back at the end of the day and truely SEE my daughter when the house is quite and peaceful.. For all of our difficult times with her special needs that are so often difficult to cope with and understand I see her in those moments she is focused and attentive and passionate. It is the reminder I need to keep doing what we do and know things are going to be all right.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/32006501@N04/5883350012/in/photostream
    Thanks!

  19. I've always loved taking pictures but an interest turned into a passion one afternoon when i stepped out onto a field hockey field. never an athlete myself i photographed some amazing young woman win a state championship. here is one of my favorite images from that day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stakos/5190938613/in/photostream/

    And then i took a self-portrait class from Viv McMasters called You are Your Own Muse… I haven't been the same since in a very good way!!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stakos/5516778874/in/set-72157626526262052/