I often get asked why I became a photographer and it’s a pretty long-winded response. I wanted to share this with you because I think it’s important to understand that everyone starts somewhere, and if you’re passionate enough about something, you CAN make anything work!

I was always “that kid” at school with a camera (I’m talking a $59 one from Target, ya’ll) snapping photos of friends and trying to fit in. It felt good to do something for others, to take photos and share them with friends, to tell them “hey look at this, you look so good!”. I thrived off the feedback and the validation from others.

You see, I was bullied all the way through my high school years. I hated it. I hated being at school, I hated not having any solid friends, I hated being that loud, tiny, dorky girl. I remember people saying to me “You’re too loud, you’re too crazy and hyperactive, what’s wrong with you?”

I was just having fun? I’m energetic? I love being ME? What’s wrong with that? I just never fit in, you know?

So fast forward to after school, I was gifted my first DSLR at my 18th birthday and I was over the moon excited! I love being able to snap a photo and make someone else feel great about themselves, I have no idea why, it just (and still does) filled my heart and soul with so much love and joy to see others happy!!

For years, I photographed anyone and anything I could get my hands on. I taught myself everything that I know now (thanks YouTube and Dr Google) and learning that way was the best thing I could have ever done. Here’s some embarrassing snippets of my Facebook photos from back then…

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By the time I was 21, I’d photographed hundreds of people and families, worked as a photographer in a night club (ha, in Kings Cross), sold prints and products to customers, booked paying clients and had enquiries coming out my ears!

All this while juggling regular jobs, working retail and customer service positions Monday to Friday and photographing people at any chance I could get. I always knew I wanted to do this “photography thing” as a proper job one day, I just didn’t know when or how the hell I would do it?!

But here I am now, 28 years old and have been full time in this little business of mine for just over 3 years. It truly is a dream come true for me and all the hard work, tears, pain and joy over the past 10 years is SO WORTH IT.

My heart still fills up with joy when I see someone happy when I see someone cry over their images because they’ve never had family photos before when a Mum says to me “Wow, I’m so much more beautiful than I thought!”.

That’s the reason I do this. Because you ARE worthy of feeling amazing, and my camera and photography is simply the tool that helps you get there. Yes, I love giving people memories to look back on, but it’s so much more than that.

I hope that where ever you are reading this, that you can find some joy and hope in knowing that you should never give up on your dreams and it’s okay to push and fight for what you want.

Lots of love, Roslyn xx