Photography is more than just a hobby for some people. It’s a way of life and a means of creative expression. Our customers at ShootDotEdit are proof of that. They’ve all embarked on a photography career path to turn their passion for photography into a full-time career as wedding photographers. Switching careers to wedding photography isn’t easy, but it’s definitely possible. And these pros have proven that with dedication, hard work, and the right support, you can successfully transition to a wedding photography career you truly love. To celebrate their achievements, this blog features career change success stories of some of our highly-valued clients who changed job descriptions and followed their dreams.
Wedding Photography Pros Who Made The Switch & Never Looked Back
1. From Being A Nurse To A Pro Photographer – Kristen Lenox
Have you ever felt like you’re not doing what you were meant to do? A former geriatric nurse, Kristen Lenox, knew that feeling all too well. She had always been fascinated by photography but never thought it could become a career. That is until she saw firsthand the impact that pictures had on her patients’ lives.
Kristen had always been interested in photography, ever since she was in high school, where she would photograph her friends with her Instamatic Kodak film camera. And it was when she received a Canon Rebel Ti from her husband that her passion for photography really took off.
Inspired by the power of photography, Kristen threw herself into learning everything she could about the creative arts. From online courses and seminars to tons of classes, she was determined to make her dream a reality. Fast forward to today, Kristen is now a successful wedding photographer and the business owner of her brand – K. Lenox Photography. Her journey reminds us that it’s never too late to pursue your passion and follow your dreams.
Related Read: K. Lenox Photography – Real, Raw, Romantic
2. From Self-Taught Engineer To Wedding Photographer – Flavio DeBarros
Flavio DeBarros is the owner of Flavio D Photography, and his career change success story is a true inspiration for anyone looking to make a switch. He went from being a self-taught engineer in the mobile phone industry for over seven years to a pro wedding photographer. It all started with a simple family favor, where he photographed his cousin’s children and uploaded the pictures on Facebook. From there, he received a request to photograph someone else’s family, and after that, there was no looking back for Flavio.
Realizing his passion for photography was still there, Flavio knew he needed a structured classroom environment to pursue it further. He enrolled in a two-year part-time program in photography at the Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts, which proved to be the turning point in his photography career path.
Related Read: Love For All Helps You Succeed: Black History Month Feature With Flavio DeBarros
3. From Caterer To Vivacious Female Photographer – Diane Clifford
Meet Diane, a seasoned professional in the wedding industry and owner of Diane Nicole Photography with more than 18 years of experience under her belt. Her journey began as a talented caterer but quickly evolved into something even more magical. It all started when a friend asked her to shoot their wedding in Florida, and from there, Diane was hooked. When she moved to Chico, CA, she began photographing more weddings for friends and soon discovered her love for capturing the joy, laughter, and love at weddings. Despite her initial fear, Diane worked hard and honed her skills, eventually charging what she was worth as a talented wedding photographer.
Related Read: Find Your Passion, & Got For It: Women’s History Month Feature With Diane Clifford
4. A Couple’s Journey To Wedding Photography – Natalie & Brandon
Natalie and Brandon are a power couple with a passion for wedding photography. The dynamic husband and wife photography team based in Las Vegas run their business, Studio N Photography, which specializes in weddings and engagements. Natalie’s love for photography ignited at a young age, and after photographing her first wedding on film, she knew she had found her calling. She went on to study commercial photography at the Community College of Southern Nevada and launched her website soon after graduation in 2008.
As for Brandon, he started his construction career, but when he met Natalie, he quickly discovered his passion for photography. He began second shooting for Natalie and eventually decided to dive deeper into the craft by taking the same photography course she did and to gain experience. The couple’s shared love for each other and for capturing love stories fuels their work every day. At Studio N Photography, they don’t just take pictures – they are true storytellers of love.
Related Read: The Power Of Love: A Husband & Wife Photographer Feature With Natalie & Brandon Of Studio N Photography
5. Becoming Of A Dynamic Wedding Photographer – Brandi Salerno
Brandi Salerno’s photography career began after she graduated from Texas State University with a degree in photography in 2009. At first, she was hesitant to do weddings and opted for portraiture. But after her wedding in 2011, she fell in love with her wedding photographer, who she saw as a celebrity.
When the photographer was looking for a second shooter, Brandi jumped at the opportunity and worked with her for several years, shooting about 100 weddings. This experience gave her the confidence to start shooting weddings on her own, transitioning to a full-time wedding photographer and owning her very own photography business – Brandi Allyse Photo. Brandi’s story proves that taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to a successful photography career path.
Related Read: From Second Shooter To Pro Wedding Photographer: The Rise Of Brandi Allyse Photo
6. Following His Love For Photography – Jorge Santiago
Jorge Santiago’s photography career path is a true success story worth reading. Growing up in a small town outside of Oaxaca City in the south of Mexico, he discovered his passion for photography at the age of 15 through a program that introduced photography to rural communities. He spent countless hours developing and enlarging images in a darkroom, which became a major part of his photography education. Jorge knew that photography was his calling, and despite getting a business degree, he went straight to work as a photographer for a newspaper and then as a photography museum darkroom manager.
He later moved to China with his wife for a year, but they eventually moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. However, since his English was “very basic”, Jorge had a tough time finding a job that he liked. So he started his own wedding photography business, Jorge Santiago Photography. He booked ten weddings in his first year, and from there, it became his full-time job.
Jorge’s passion for photography and determination to succeed allowed him to build a successful wedding photography business in a new country. He continues to capture beautiful moments for his clients while staying true to his identity as a photographer.
Related Read: “Be Yourself — The Rest Will Follow” Featuring Jorge Santiago Photography
7. Discovering Her Passion For Wedding Photography – Erin Morrison
Erin Morrison, chai tea lover and pro wedding photographer, fell in love with photography after being amazed by her own wedding photographers. On her website, she shares, “I thought that what they did was pretty darn cool, and I felt like it would be the perfect creative outlet for me.” She couldn’t stop talking to her husband, James, about it, and he finally surprised her with her first camera! That moment changed everything.
Erin is now the proud owner of Erin Morrison Photography. She has photographed over 300 weddings, capturing some of the most special moments of couples’ lives. But that’s not the only impressive feat she’s achieved – Erin has also consumed over 1700 chai teas!
Erin’s journey is proof that if you have a passion for something, it’s worth pursuing. If you have the determination to make it work, starting something new at any point in life can lead to success. Erin’s story will inspire you to take that leap of faith and pursue your dreams.
Suggested Read: Establish Yourself As An Expert To Your Clients: Featuring Erin Morrison
8. Combining Artistic Talents Into Photography – Heather & Terrance Huie
Heather and Terrence’s story is also about successfully making a career change. Heather, an artist at heart, never considered her talent a viable career option. However, photography was part of her native skill set and interest. As she started experimenting and doing more photography, she got recognized for her work and began photographing people on the sideline. Heather went to Columbia for her Masters in photography and art education, which led her to work at a high-end e-commerce studio and fashion shoots. She learned much from working under the right people and absorbing all that information.
On the other hand, Terrance, who had a talent for writing, dabbled in copywriting while studying political science and philosophy. But his love for spoken word poetry brought him to New York City. Here, he met Heather while both were bartending on the Upper West Side. That moment sparked a fire that led to the birth of Apollo Fields. This unique wedding photography business delivers stunning wedding photographs and offers a poetic representation of a couple’s relationship and their wedding day as a gift after the wedding.
Suggested Read: Apollo Fields Photography: Attract The Right Clients With Brand Authenticity
9. From Passion to Full-Time Photography Profession – Stephanie Heymann
Stephanie Heymann’s love for photography began at a young age, thanks to her father’s classic 35mm Canon Camera. She vividly remembers holding a flower next to her face while her father clicked her picture. Even though her dad was not a photographer, he inspired her to pursue photography. During high school, Stephanie spent much time in the darkroom and was always interested in photography.
In her Featured Photographer interview, she told us, “I had a teaching degree and worked at a magazine where I seemed to always be on the photo shoot. So photography was just always bubbling and simmering.” Eventually, she decided to jump into photography with both feet and never looked back. Her hard work and determination paid off, and her photography career took off right away.
Stephanie’s photography style evolved over the years. She started with families, headshots, and babies but quickly realized that she had a deeper love for weddings. Today, she spends most of her time shooting weddings, but also does Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, senior photos, and family portraits. Stephanie’s passion for photography started with a simple click of a camera and has led her on a successful photography career path.
Further Read: ShootDotEdit Customer Reviews: True Testimonials
These are a few examples of the several talented photographers who have succeeded in their photography career path and the wedding photography industry. Their career change stories are inspiring and prove that pursuing one’s passions can yield powerful results. We continue to be inspired by the amount of hard work these professionals put into their art as well as their businesses, and we love to see them thrive and grow each day. We hope these stories from our customers inspire you and you get the confidence to take the leap to pursue your dreams.
At ShootDotEdit, we are passionate about helping you grow your wedding photography business. A part of how we do that is by lessening your post-production workload with our professional photo editing services. To learn more about how we can help your wedding photography business, check out our pricing plans.
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