The VERY humble begininnings of what would eventually become the Ariel Anne brand…
Twenty years ago, Tyson and I went to Best Buy, I picked out a DSLR camera (Nikon D80) with a kit lens, started pointing it at people and taking pictures and, BAM! I was a photographer!
I had no idea how to tell my camera what I wanted it to do, didn’t have the slightest clue about light and I didn’t know how to pose people…
But, I had people hiring me to take their pictures. So, when my pictures were underexposed, I told myself I was going for “moody.”
When I shot in deep shadow or in full sun (without knowing how to expose for either), I just made the image B&W and it was “artsy.”
I would put my clients in a spot and they would deliver whatever they delivered because I had no idea how to guide them. But, that was okay too, because my images were photojournalistic and “natural” (spoiler alert: the natural, candid looking images most of us love don’t often happen organically).
And, my work just became more “creative” as I learned a little bit about Photoshop with selective coloring, vignetting and skin softening.
Best yet, I slapped my logo on all my images because I had the nerve to think someone would want to pass off one of my awful images as their own!
(I should problaby explain said logo and name to those of you who haven’t followed along my 20 year journey…My business was originally called “Ariel Views Photo” and I stuck with that for so long that people started referring to my husband as “Mr. Views.” When I rebranded about 10 years ago, I wanted something more classy that would also eliminate both the question of our family’s last name and whether or not I did “Aerial” photography…)
Oh dear! It’s embarrassing to own up to this. But, it’s where I started and I hope it encourages other photographers who are just starting out.
There are some established photographers who have an attitude about newby photographers. Many of these start-ups don’t know what they’re doing (exactly as I was in the beginning), but people are paying them to do it.
Established photographers often say these new photographers are causing damage to the industry because people are simply hiring these budget photographers instead of investing in photographers who have made a name for themselves.
I, obviously, can’t agree with this perspective because I was one of those cheap options people hired because they couldn’t afford someone with more experience or my victims…er, I mean clients, were my family and friends who wanted to support my endeavor regardless of how terrible I might butcher their images.
I embrace new photographers and try to encourage them and point them in directions that I had to stumble upon all by myself (well I didn’t have to. I was too insecure to ask for help and advice from experienced photographers because I was afraid they would discover my ignorance)…
I feel there are clients for every photographer at every price point.
I imagine some of my first clients, living off of a military income, couldn’t afford a session with me at my current rate, but their moments didn’t deserve to be photographed any less and they shouldn’t feel shame for only being able to afford a newbie and a newbie shouldn’t feel ashamed for meeting that need for a budget friendly option while they’re starting out, gaining experience and building their portfolio.
Now, that you all know I am a budding photographer’s biggest cheerleader, please know I think we all need to grow and continue to learn… I eventually came to know the things I now know.
I poured through YouTube tutorials; found other photographers whose work I admired, and through them, began finding a consistent voice and style that I will always work to build upon and perfect.
But, I hope to never forget my beginnings, remember the insecurity that came with knowing I didn’t really know what I was doing and to extend all the grace to those photographers who are just starting on their own journeys.
These new photographers aren’t competition. They’re new members to the photography community.
