Indianapolis Family Photographer | casey and her camera

Are you ready, Indy? I hope so, because we are, and we hit the road exactly one week from today. It’s been a craaaazzzyyy month and continues to be this week. And aside from saying the terribly hard goodbyes at the end of this week, I think we’re ready. So why, then, is there a picture of Brad here? Where am I going with this? Well… I’ll tell you… in A History Of… casey and her camera.

If you’ve followed here for a while, you’ve seen Brad (my husband, if you’re new) in many of my photos. He so willingly participates in every shoot and session I’ve envisioned (with the exception of that one bow-tie-adult-cake-smash idea… more on that on a rainy day) and there’s no sarcasm hidden in there at all. I’m a part of all sorts of photography forums – helps to keep me up with the trends, fresh on new techniques, and I’ve always believed that art is nothing without other artists to grow and learn from. I’ve seen/heard/read people complaining about the lack of support from their spouses – nothing relationship-ending – just looking for people who can relate.

I can honestly say I can neither relate, nor understand. I am incredibly fortunate.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: three years ago I made a 5-year promise to myself. A promise that I would fearlessly jump off the diving board into the deep end of my passion… and my future career. I had dabbled in photography from the time my Grandmother gave me my first battery-powered point-and-shoot. Possibly even before that with the camera I hope is left to me in my parents ((very far away)) will. 😉 Wink, wink, Mom and Dad, if you’re reading. I don’t mind that the light meter is broken. That’s the camera that started it all for me.

It went on to become a casual hobby in high school, my concentration in college, and the class I so proudly developed and implemented my first year teaching. It’s stuck with me to this day, and I’ve learned to recognize it as my medium. It’s how I express myself. Photography became a form of art therapy for me in college, a topic that one day may become a blog of it’s own. It never occurred to me, until college, that photography was a career. Sure, I had the Sears of JCPenny portraits taken as a kid growing up, but all other photography for our family beyond that was done by my mom. I just wanted to be like her – be the photographer for my family… document our lives. And so it began. Here’s my mom… so you have a visual. 😉

Fast forward through college when I started to realize that this was a career. Meanwhile, while all my peers are planning out their businesses and choosing their specialty (wedding, family, newborn, etc.) I was getting my teaching credential and merrily taking advantage of my college education as it was giving me an in-depth study into my favorite hobby. I was happy as a clam chugging away in that dark room for four years.

So happy, I skipped out on most of the Photoshop segments of my advanced photo courses.

I knew college was going to be one of the few times in my life I would have access to a fully stocked (and LARGE) darkroom. I was in heaven! I didn’t even OWN a digital camera until I was in my last year of college and needed it for a project. It was a Canon Powershot. Not a DSLR.

Flash forward again to my first DSLR and kit lens in 2008, a few events here and there for the high school I was teaching at, and to my first wedding in 2009. Thus followed many a photo adventure, small sessions for friends and family here and there. Then senior photos, engagement photos, three more weddings, and a smattering (yes, smattering) of other sessions in 2010. There was a camera update somewhere along the way and then 2011 was my first year on the ranch, and my favorite pass time took a backseat for a while. I still indulged in photo adventures and a few sessions here and there, but I was short on spare time and was focusing on my own personal mental health. It was a challenging year for me… and the year I made a five-year promise to myself. The year I admitted out loud that ‘I WANT TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER’.

So the idea was born. 2012 brought numerous personal projects, more photo adventures, and a move to California. I learned my camera really well, I practiced as much as I could – both in shooting and in editing. I taught myself the technical details that I had skipped out on while soaking in every moment in the dark room. Somewhere in 2012, I started to form a better plan for this business. I had already had my name, but had never really taken myself seriously.

2013 was the biggest year yet (and I’m guessing 2014 will be even bigger 😉 ) for casey and her camera, as I opened the doors, officially, to clients and not just to friends and family. A couple more weddings, and a fully booked winter schedule gave me the motivation and encouragement I needed to take the next steps. I found my style in 2013 – with shooting and editing – and feel comfortable saying I’ve found my niche. I’ve got a look that’s unique to me and that is an accurate representation of my work. It’s incredibly gratifying to look back over the years and see how far my work has come. And so far, 2014 has been packed with trips back to MI, weddings, engagements… and I’m already booking into 2015. See?

2015 will mark year 4 of my 5-year plan. I’m delighted to say I’m 1 year ahead of my own schedule and am ready to jump in – canon ball style. While fall and winter of 2014 has a full schedule and a couple of tricks of its own, 2015 will be the first year I will be going full time in this industry. It was a career I never knew existed, nor did I see myself as being skilled enough at making my mark in this area of the arts.

So to pick up where I left off up top. Always believe in yourself. And listen to those that love you and care about you when they say they believe in you. Brad has been telling me for years to go for it. He truly believes in and supports me through and through, and for that I am incredibly grateful.

I cannot wait to make this semi-cross-country move with you, husband, and I am grateful for you and everything you have done for me and my dreams.

Welcome home, casey and her camera. Here is where you belong… right in Indy, as an Indianapolis Family Photographer, now and forever. <3

 

casey and her camera is an Indianapolis Family Photographer specializing in family, couple, lifestyle, senior, and wedding photography for Indianapolis, Indiana and the surrounding areas.