A few weeks ago, during her baby shower, my cousin’s wife, Kortney, mentioned she wanted to take some maternity pictures. Somehow, amidst that conversation, I ended up offering to take them for her. And somehow she trusted me, despite the fact that I’m not a professional, and that she’s probably only seen the pictures that I’ve taken on here, which are about as unprofessional as they get…(What? You don’t like my closet door as a background over and over and over again? My bad.)
Anyway, we drove up beautiful Provo canyon a few days later, just as the sun was about to set, and got some pretty good photos of her in all her glowing pregnant beauty.
And now several people have been like, “hey, do you do photography now?” And the honest answer
is, um, “I don’t know.” It’s kind of a fun little hobby for me, but I have no desire to make a big business out of it. I have so many other things that I’m involved in, and the thought of booking shoots, or advertising, or building a website just makes me want to die. I think I’d much rather do it every once in a while, all by word of mouth, and keep it very casual, and mostly just for fun. Cause if I’m going to be totally honest with myself, I will hate it the second it becomes a job.
Oh, and I must promise myself that I will not offer to take anyone else’s photos until I get an external hard drive. Cause guess what…my computer is out of memory. I can hardly check my email without little warnings popping up everywhere telling me my startup disk is almost full. Christmas cannot come soon enough.
Merrick, these are so great! I feel the same way about photography. My MIL wanted me to do my SIL's wedding pictures (!!!), and I was like, "Um, you really need to hire somebody." I will take a ton of pictures, of course, but I can NOT be responsible for someone's whole wedding! I also feel this way about baking. For fun, it's fun!
Merrick, these are fantastic! The lighting in the second one is especially lovely.
Preethi
lace, etc.
Mer – These are gorgeous!! I love the pictures you took for Michael and I too… you're going to have to come up with a pretty good 'I'm not a professional photographer' argument if you plan on continuing to produce such beautiful work!
AWESOME work!
I hate to think how much money we've spent on hard drives. boooo…
Beautiful pictures.
Great photos! I have been in the same boat. I've ended up doing some photos for some friends (some hospital and newborn shots last week) but I'm in this awkward place now. My friends who have photography businesses are encouraging me to take payment (it's been offered) and put myself out there but the truth is, do I want to? It's so much stress and time. Not to mention the fact that I have a business and have had one before this and it's no fun dealing with money, especially with friends! My photog friends have told horror stories about their own friends who have taken advantage of them. Photography is one of those underrated talents. People don't understand how much time and effort it takes to take good photographs and to edit them and so they often don't value it monetarily for what it (and your talent and time) are worth.
Anyway, all that is to say that I've been thinking about it a LOT myself and I completely understand where you're at.
Those turned out beautiful! I love taking pictures, but I don't know if I could do it for money. I feel like it would be too much pressure. :o)