“I have always loved photography. Some of my earliest memories of holding a camera, I must have been three years old. My grandma was always taking photos of me with a small digital camera and printing them into photobooks. I remember I loved stealing her camera to take photos of myself, my pets, her, anything I could get in front of the lens. When I got a little older and my sister was born, I had an old iPod. I would dress her up, take her outside, and do these little stylized shoots with her. Afterward, I would find whatever free editing app I could and turn her into an ice princess. As time went on, I was gifted a nicer DSLR camera and started taking photos of my friends. Going into college, I was so unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. I was studying nursing, but my heart just was not in it. I ended up dropping out and having a long conversation with my dad about what I really wanted. I remember telling him that if I could make money doing photography, I would do it in a heartbeat. Something in my brain shifted that year. I started marketing myself more, improving my skills, and actually building a client base. Through all of that, I learned that I absolutely loved working with couples. They were my favorite to photograph because you could feel their genuine connection through the images. That slowly turned into a love for weddings. I fell in love with the organized chaos, the people, the energy, and the constant movement of the day. It all felt right. And now here I am, with my weekends filling up faster than I ever imagined. Let this be your reminder to follow your dreams, even if they feel unrealistic.”
-Bailee Burkhart
