I can still remember the ache in my legs and the sweat on my brow, as I climbed the stairs. As I followed the unsure and slightly confused security guard towards the final flight of stairs, I laughed at my outfit. Here I was in Doha, Qatar with 114º mid day temps, wearing two jackets, mittens and a knitted hat. The security officer didn't ask a lot of questions, he was focused on the task at hand and clearly wasn't the chatty type.
As the door opened, I was awestruck at what I saw,
even having seen the view a day prior. I stood atop a hotel, 50 stories above the quiet streets of Doha. I was eye level with modern day skyscrapers of glass and steel, their facades reflecting the pinks and oranges of the sunrise slowly creeping in.
I was knocked back into reality by the strong winds throwing me off balance; it was time to get to work. As I got into position and set up my camera I thought to myself: “Is this really my job?”.
In the last 16 years working as a professional photographer, I’ve had my fair share of mistakes and successes, and countless lessons learned. Here are the sparknotes of my story:
In 2005, while studying in Portland OR, I decided to change my degree from illustration to photography and transferred to The Art Institute of Boston. With a move across the country, and the hard realization that life costs money, I knew I needed to get a job.
As soon as I could, I started hustling on CraigsList to find gigs. I started with assisting on photo jobs, which didn’t just connect me with other photographers, but taught me the ins and outs of big photoshoots. This also allowed me to gain experience without the risk and pressures of taking on my own clients before I was ready. As I continued assisting, my network began to grow. And as the old saying goes, it’s not what you know, but who you know.
Eric Levin changed the course of my life.
For most of college I worked small gigs with Eric and his network of folks. Typically I would photograph events, which quickly led me to realize I wasn't keen on photographing parties, events, or even people for that matter. Although the subject matter wasn’t enjoyable to me, it helped me learn how to plan events and think on my feet.
Eventually, I had a chance to help Eric with some real estate photography,
and this is where I truly felt at **home**.
Sure, I had to deal with pushy agents, but I found that rooms and objects made sense to me. Before long, I was doing more and more real estate shoots, and soon, I began taking on my own clients. For about 4 years, I did a mix of events and real estate photography, all the while still looking into job postings for freelance photographers (I was ALWAYS hustling!).
One day I came across a posting on CraigsList for a hotel photographer. A photo agency was looking for photographers to do contract work in and around New England, photographing small hotel chains like Days Inn, Ramada, etc. I was excited to work with a larger company on a regular basis. My humble portfolio of real estate work helped me land the job at an agency that eventually changed my life.
For about 2 years, my hotel photography was pretty standard. Roadside hotels in Connecticut, Vermont, and other New England states can hardly be considered glamourous. This is until I received a phone call from the agency, asking me if I could step in for a senior photographer who couldn't make it to the UK for a month-long shoot.
This one trip opened the door to more international opportunities. From 2010 to 2016 I photographed hotels and restaurants on 4 continents and 30+ countries. My constant effort to improve and work hard, led me to earn the role of senior photographer at the agency.
During this time, I learned a tremendous amount about photography, the world, and myself. I had the opportunity to discover new places, meet incredible people from so many walks of life, and of course, took a few incredible photos. Traveling the world as a professional photographer sounds fun, but after years of living on the road, it began to take its toll.
In 2016-2017 I began my transition into education. During my career, I occasionally taught workshops and even helped as a TA for college classes. I found the experience so enjoyable that I started my own small business. One that I assumed would be a side gig, but was passionate about nonetheless. I wanted Boston Photography Workshops to be a place I could teach photography in my own way, and on my own schedule, while I continued to expand my local clientele.
Nearly 10 years later, what started as a temporary side hustle, has become the epicenter of my career.
Teaching photography has led to new friends, new genres of photography, and even helped me continue to travel (thank goodness for our travel workshops!).
Photography has shaped my life in ways I could’ve never imagined. Just learning how to use my camera was a small but integral part of my journey. I always say it, but I still think it’s true: “I still can't believe people pay me to make photos”, It’s nearly unbelievable.
Whether teaching or making, photography is part of who I am. Even when I’m taking a break, I know photography will be with me forever.