One question that I’m often asked is “What camera did you start with”?  or “What camera did you use your first year of weddings”?  So how about we take a little walk through memory lane!  We can look at some old work, see the growth, and I will walk you through my evolution of photography gear.   It is ALWAYS fun to compare the new you to the old you.  Sometimes it is a good way to bring us back down to earth;  to realize how far we HAVE come and all the positive growth over the years.  There is a constant struggle to grow and improve, but trust me, if you are out shooting and pushing yourself every week, then you will grow faster than you think!   Lets take a peek!

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First… here is ME in 2012 with my first DSLR.  The Nikon D3000.   I used the 50mm 1.8.  Thanks to my pal Sami for the image 🙂   

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This was what I would call my first “photoshoot”…. I was babysitting my friends kids, took my camera to the park and went crazy.  I gave her the images on a CD and get this…. I entered this picture into a contest at some point…. (lawwwwd what was I thinking LOL)  This was summer 2012…. and I don’t even think I had the 50mm for this… yikes!     

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This is my first engagement session!  Oh I love this couple so much!   Still 2012, I was taking all photoshoots complimentary and for practice.  Still shooting with my D3000 and 50mm.  I was pretty clueless honestly, but we all start somewhere right?  

My best friends modeled for me OFTEN back then!  Practice Practice Practice!  (and see on the right I discovered photoshop actions lol.

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And on to 2013! I officially started my business with a business license in January.   I upgraded to a Nikon D7000.  I still had my 50mm, and added a 105mm, and a 24-70.  The 24-70 was my jam that year!!   Here are my first three weddings!  A far stretch from where I am now…. but I can’t help but love them because they were all HUGE milestones in my business and I’m so grateful that they would trust me on their biggest day!

Anna & James                      Leslie & Eben                    Tatiana & Kevin

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In 2014 I upgraded to the Nikon D4, such a beast of a camera!  I still rocked the 24-70, but once I bought the 85mm  1.4 the game was changed.  You can see the transition in the bottom right images!

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In 2015 I started to realize I could really do this as a full-time job.  I worked REALLY hard and resigned from my day job that year!  So many great weddings.  These are just a few.  My work was much stronger, but still not super consistent with colors.  Still rocking the D4, and now my favorite two lenses:  the 85mm and the 70-200!  Totally still my favorites!

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And here we are to 2016!   Totally my best year yet and finally finding my true and consistent style.  Always a work in progress.  I still rock the Nikon D4, and I have a D3 as a back up.   I only use Nikon lenses, except I have one Sigma Art… the 35mm.  I don’t love it at all, so I will probably stick to Nikon.  All though I do hear most people LOVE their sigmas.    

My first wedding on the left, and my most recent shoot on the right!

One more fun “then and now”    2012 vs 2016.   I LOVE that I still have some of the SAME clients!  Tatiana and Ruby are so pretty they make my 2012 work look pretty darn good haha.

So my total list of cameras and lenses…. I still have everything lol…  I can’t help myself

Most of these have newer versions so I didn’t link them, but google has all the info you need!

Nikon D3000 (my first!)

Nikon D7000 (my 2nd)  This is a freaking AWESOME starter camera by the way!

Nikon D4

Nikon D3 as a back up

Sigma Art 35mm 1.4

Nikon 50mm 1.4

Nikon 24-70 2.8

Nikon 85mm 1.4

Nikon 105mm  2.8

Nikon 70-200 2.8

So the evolution of my photography is a combination of the growth of my gear, hard work, and education.   I can’t help but wonder what types of technology will change and evolve over the years.  A friend of mine recently told me about a new camera technology  that encompasses multiple lens systems into one camera.  My mind is blown LOL.   There will always be fun new things to check out, and considering I have always been the girl with the camera I love it all, the old and the new!   Even my old work and my old camera 🙂    One day I’ll show you all my work from the dark room days (wow I’m old lol).

HUGS!!!!!