Why I Keep Picking Up My Camera

People ask me sometimes how I don’t burn out as a photographer. Honestly, even my staff wonders the same thing. They’ll be packing up at the end of a long day, turning off lights and heading home, while I’m grabbing my gear and walking out the door for a photo session.

The truth is, the photography itself doesn’t burn me out. What steals my joy some days is the business side—the second guessing. Am I posting on social media enough for the ever-changing algorithm to actually show my work? Are my prices too high? Or too low? How’s cash flow looking this week?

Those are the things that weigh me down.

But what keeps me going—and why I keep loving photography—is the stories behind the pictures. The moments where I get to not just take a photo, but actually be part of someone’s story.

The Senior Boy Who “Never Smiles”

There was a mom of a high school senior who cried when she saw her son’s gallery. “You got him to smile,” she said. “He never smiles for photos.”

To her, that one genuine smile was worth everything.

The Cheerleader Who Needed to Believe It

Then there was a senior cheerleader—beautiful, popular, the girl everyone thought had it all together. But deep down, she struggled with how she saw herself. When she saw her photos, she said, “I guess my parents weren’t lying… I am pretty.”

That moment mattered more than any pose or lighting trick.

The 40-Year-Old Mom Who Almost Canceled

But the story that sticks with me most is the mom in her forties with three kids. She admitted later that she thought about canceling the session so many times. She didn’t feel ready. She didn’t feel “good enough.”

When she saw her photos, she decided to leave her imperfections in the final edits. She realized those changes weren’t flaws—they were part of her story. The years, the sacrifices, the love she’s poured into her family.

And then her kids told her, “Mom, you are so beautiful.”

That’s when she knew it was more than just about her. She was showing her kids what it looks like to be strong and confident, even when we all wrestle with doubts about ourselves.

Why I Keep Going

This is why I do what I do. Because photography isn’t just about making pretty pictures. It’s about helping people see themselves the way their loved ones see them.

And when that happens, it can change the way a family sees each other. It can even change family trees.

That’s why, even after a long day at the studio, I’ll still walk out the door with my camera in hand. That’s why I keep picking it up, again and again.