That was the first question from The Knot account representative who contacted me. The kind tone in her voice set me at ease because it wasn’t a scolding, it was tinged with excitement. “Where have you been hiding for the last 5 years?? Your work is incredible!” The question made me smile, but I knew exactly why she asked in this manner. Most people in the photographic community know everyone…or someone knows someone who knows someone. It’s one big picture taking family and I’m the lost cousin who suddenly appears out of nowhere to the largest wedding photography network.

The truth is that for the first 3 yrs Keepsake Images was a part time business. I would put in 8 hours behind the tech support desk and then come home eager to do some editing on a session or wedding from the weekend. Sometimes I could cheat and actually ‘work on my work at work.’ My full time job, at the time, was for a company built upon software development for digital photographers. This journey began almost 10 yrs ago at the time when digital cameras cost $8,000 and only professional companies and lucky people with nice bank accounts could afford them. I’d spent everyday assisting customers who spent their days shooting weddings and sports events and this is where I started thinking about possibly having a business of my own someday-  because it seemed rewarding to be a photographer and a fab way to make a living.

I’ve always had a love for photography.

As a child, I would sneak into my moms room, into her closet and rummage through all the black and white images of family. My grandpa as a Marine, my great-grandma with grandpa as a child, of him playing the drums in a band when he was in his 20′s,  my mom with super curly hair and bows,  my grandma looking like a screen starlet with her flawless skin. And I was so intrigued by it. The fact that I could actually see evidence of who my family was when they were my age  was great! You’d think  growing up I could somehow foresee this. But no,  the most that I owned in camera equipment as a kid was a Polaroid camera and after that went off the market I let the daydream of playing with a camera fade. Until I sat behind a desk in my 20′s doing tech support for photographers and realized I want to have my own business. I thought I’d lost my mind. I had earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice. I wanted to be an investigator, but didn’t want to carry a gun. Oops. Here I was, degree earned and working in a field outside of my “chosen profession” and now I’m thinking of being a photographer? CSI didn’t exist back then or else I’d be Horatio’s sidekick crime scene photographer.  But I couldn’t let the idea go. And anyone who knows me well knows one thing. I like instant gratification. Tangible rewards. I like results NOW. Digital photography offered that. No more waiting for film to be developed. I worked for a company that processed and managed digital files! Hello dream + pretty pictures, we finally meet again!

I began practicing at work. Any chance I could get my hands on one I was clicking away. I borrowed different cameras and lenses on the weekends when no one would need them. I took pictures of everything and everyone. Family, friends and finally, the inquiries to shoot weddings for family and friends started coming. Keepsake Images was finally established in 2005. And for 3.5 yrs I happily covered weddings , quinceaneras, took family and baby portraits. Then it happened. Another little project that had been in the works for years but hadn’t come to fruition finally did. I became pregnant with my first child.

Pregnant brain. Anyone who’s a mom or is expecting knows exactly what this is. You live and breathe your first pregnancy every second of every day. After struggling to conceive I had a question before me. What happens with the photography business after the baby comes? I didn’t want to give up something I had grown to love! But oh, hello newborn baby face and sweet smelling skin. I knew that time would FLY and I wanted to enjoy it with my baby. I took 3 months leave and then after I shot a few weddings, I wanted a break. Not because my love for photography waivered. Are you kidding? I never put the camera down. I had a new photo subject who couldn’t run away from me! Pictures of him in cute little outfits, in the baby buff, sleeping, cooing, smiling, rolling over, staring at the ceiling fan, staring at me wondering if the lens was an extension of my nose. And I did this, just this, for almost 18 months. I was in photographer heaven.

My little man is now almost 2 yrs old and no longer cares to be still for mama to take pics of him. Quite the contrary, he’s got mamarazzi syndrome like most kids of photographers do. They RUN and hide when we bring out the camera beast. But the entire time I was capturing pictures of him I missed weddings. I missed meeting new happy couples who loved photography like I do. I missed photographing other newborns and families. I made the decision to re-open and go for it again. FULL TIME. And why not start off full-time by reaching out to the largest wedding network? The Knot. I placed the call, submitted the email and waited to hear back. Then she called and asked “where have you been hiding?” and this is the ins and outs of it. I’m right here. Editing  a wedding with my son riding around on his first Big Wheel.  Toys strewn everywhere and albums around me. And I couldn’t be happier. With my new listing on The Knot, life is good and I’m blessed.

And since I opted to re-open with a fresh new blog, I feel every post is better with pictures of cute babies whenever possible so here are some of my little superman who kept me busy the last 22 months.

Meet Rowan.

Or as I call him Rowanbear, RoRo, Monkey, RoRoYourBoat and Rowan David when he’s in trouble 

my future heartbreaker. Photo secret : seconds after this shot came the toddler meltdown. Always be ready

I.love.my.job.