Why I Became A Documentary Family Photographer & Why I Love It
I’m glad you stopped here! I wanted to share a bit more about me. After all, your documentary family photographer gets pretty close to you when taking your family pictures. Sharing the “why” behind my choice to become a family photographer is important to me, and I hope when you are searching for a photographer you not only look at their portfolio, but you also consider their personality as well. After all, you and your loved ones deserve to have fun and relax while you create amazing memories together. And I want you to know why I became a family photographer and why I love it.
Becoming a photographer in southwest Florida
For me, becoming a photographer was something I had always wanted to do. However, it was a fairly radical shift from my full-time job. I spent my high school and college years obsessed with learning everything I could about photography and art in general. I studied film photography, the Dada art movement and WWI, Andy Warhol, and pretty much anything else art related I could get my hands on. When I moved back to SWFL after college I really started to think about what I wanted to do and the one thing that came to mind was: being a photographer in Southwest Florida.
I really liked my part time job but it was on a contract, and when that ended I was left with looking for another part time job. I searched for about a month before I realized that anything I was going to be doing was going to take me out of my home and away from my kids and my husband. That was when I decided that was the time to start my business. I’ve been a family photographer for nearly a year and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Family means everything to me
I had never done something like this before, I had no experience running a business and almost no idea what I was doing (besides the photography aspect).
The decision on starting my own business had everything to do with my kids. I wanted to work from home while they were there. I wanted to be there to put them to bed, and wake up with them in the morning. It was the perfect solution, I got to do two things I love (being with my kids & photography), and still contribute to our family.
In the past year I have built, taken down, and rebuilt my website 3 times. I designed myself three logos, two of which I just can’t bear to share. I have had so many late nights of “hustling” and working hard. The best part of it all however, is that it’s all for me, on my time, in my home. Spending so much time with my family just makes me realize I chose the right path!
Why I Became A Documentary Family Photographer? Family
Family is something I have always had a close connection to in my life. I’ve always been close to my parents, my sisters, my grandparents, and now that I have kids family is even more important. However, it’s important to remember that family isn’t just blood, it’s your friends, neighbors, roommates, study-buddy, whoever it is you love and care about! And the best part about being a documentary family photographer is that I get to capture all of those memories, all of those precious moments, and freeze them in time for forever. I think that is a pretty cool job to have.
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read all of this, now you know why I became a family photographer. Thank you for being a part of my journey.
Dara Prettyman