Annette Marie Photography: The Pinon Hills Family Photographer’s Journey
Hi. It’s me, Annette.
I grew up hating photography.
Yep. I did.
And no, I didn’t grow up not liking having my picture taken, like every teenager in the 80s. I simply hated photography.
The concept was so odd to me. Why would someone want to get their picture taken? Do people actually need pictures? I didn’t think they did. And, why did people even take pictures of stuff?
Grab a cup of tea and a cookie, because this is going to be a long one. A little history lesson, if you will, on why photos of you and your kids are sooo important!
Be Kind, Rewind
First, let’s take a trip down memory lane and visit my childhood.
My dad is a photographer. Yes. However, he does not take photos of people. He is a landscape photographer. I grew up being in photos with rocks, mountains, or fossils, for size reference.
I never saw the point of taking pictures. Especially photos of people. I didn’t grow up going to Sears or JCPenney every year for the annual family photo.
Don’t get me wrong, I grew up with small 3x5 photos in the house, and we had lots of photo albums. But most of the albums were photos of me as a baby. And no family photos on the walls because my parents divorced before I turned one.
No, this is not a poor-me sob story. It’s a trip down memory lane, remember? I’m setting the scene.
I have a big stack of photo albums from all the trips I’ve been on. And, I’m even in a few of the photos. However, I’m either pouting or crying in them, while standing in front of a geyser or some other thing.
Toddler in-home lifestyle session. I come to you at your home.
Now, don’t get me wrong, as an adult, I love looking back through all the photos. I’m glad to have those memories and show my kids where I went. I laugh at my pouty faces. They hold wonderful memories for me.
It’s similar to our phone galleries now. Kids at the waterpark, the zoo, and in front of the house on the first day of school. Nothing you’d hang up on the wall, though, right?
Now, fast forward to my adulthood, year 2005ish. I had two young kids, ages 4 and 2.
Stock image
I bought a digital camera so I could take pictures of my kids. They were the new thing; you didn’t have to develop film to see the photos. What!?
I took a photo here and there of the kids swimming in the pool, playing in the yard, or dancing in the rain. Can’t see their faces, but I know which kid is which. Who knew you should get in front of them to take their picture? Ha!
The camera was a silver Canon something (can’t remember the model), and it had manual settings. I messed with it for fun, nothing serious. I was capturing memories, right? Sure.
Product Photography
Okay, let’s fast forward a bit more, to 2016. I had four kids now, and time was flying by. But I didn’t seem to notice, at least in photography terms.
I opened an Etsy shop in 2016, when my youngest went to kindergarten.
I love sewing, so I decided to sell my handmade things online to keep myself busy.
My Canon camera had died a few years earlier, so I purchased a Fujifilm camera.
When you have an online shop, you need to have good photos. Your photos will make or break your sales. Be it Etsy, Shopify, or your own website.
I took a handful of online courses, bought product photography books, and pinned everything I could find to learn how to take better product photos. The photos began looking better. And sales started coming in.
That Fujifilm camera died (it kept spazzing out), so I decided to go back to Canon; it was more user-friendly to me. The very next day after I bought my new camera, Covid hit, and the world paused.
“Mask making, mask making, make everyone a mask, began. ”
Cue remote learning, no toilet paper, and everyone staying home. Wild times.
During the early days of Pandemonium, I came across an online photography course by some guy with an Irish accent. It was photography 101: everything from camera settings and flashes to photographing animals. I took the course, and it was a lot of fun for me! I got to play with my new camera with photography prompts. And, I learned to photograph other things, including myself, not just my handmade products.
One prompt: Go outside and take a photo of something the same color as the background. Green flip-flop on the grass! I was excited to learn new things.
If anything, it helped me think outside the box. The product photography box, that is. I had a sewing blog and website for 2 years, but this course really opened my eyes.
Back to School
When schools opened back up, I enrolled in a local college course. I really wanted to take photos alongside other photographers. I wanted to get feedback from a real-life teacher.
I learned so much in my in-person class. I knew a handful of things already, but I was taught how to properly use my camera settings, save files, edit, and so much more!
As the class progressed, we began photographing eachother.
And, that’s when…
I FELL IN LOVE WITH PHOTOGRAPHY
It felt like someone had lifted the blanket I’d been hiding under, and I could finally come out.
This thing I grew up disliking and not understanding became my lifeblood.
It became a part of my why. Why I’m here. Why I created this new talent. It gave me a reason to get up every morning.
I’ve always loved connecting with people; I’m a magnet of sorts. People are naturally drawn to me, and I to them. Photography gave me purpose and a reason to connect on a much different level.
The whole theory that “taking a photo of someone will capture their soul” is real. And, not in a weird or creepy way. It’s about finding something meaningful. I want to capture the essence of a person.
Of course, after that initial class, I enrolled in more classes and more classes. I wanted to master this newfound craft.
Portrait photography, or portraiture, is a type of photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses. A portrait photograph may be artistic or clinical.
-Wikipedia
I learned proper lighting techniques, camera tricks, light Photoshop skills, how to pose people and groups, color theory (paint and light work differently), and sooo much more!
And, at the end of one class, I had to write an essay on why photography is important to me. I had to dig deep. Really deep. I even cried in front of my professor when I learned my why. I had built a barrier around it that I didn’t realize I made. I had to knock that wall down STAT to continue.
Lift Off
My dislike for photography from early childhood had come full circle into it being my favorite thing.
Yeah, it’s pretty funny when you think about it. Something I grew up hating ended up being true love for me and my creative brain.
Ooooohh a camera
So, what exactly is the point of telling you this long-winded story? And, why should you even care?
I had to take photos of people to use in my assignments. I learned family and portrait photography, and I luckily had a kid of my own in every corner.
Through this, I realized I didn’t have any photos of my kids from all those previous years.
Over 20 years of motherhood and 4 kids later, I didn’t have any professional photos of my family. No, they didn’t get lost. There wasn’t a tornado.
We’re a happy, healthy, fun and loving family, and we have zero photos to show of it. Don’t get me wrong, we have photo books of our trips and summers. But we didn’t have any big wall-sized portraits. Something I really needed to work on.
The Why
After being asked by friends to take their photos, I’ve made it my goal to take photos of my own and other families.
You will want photos of your kids to look back on. Tangible photos you can feel and hold.
Yes, we all have mini cameras in our pockets. However large, framed portraits that are wall-worthy really make a huge difference in the way you look at yourself and loved ones.
You will see yourself in a whole new light (pun intended).
This isn’t a plug for you to hire me as your family photographer (unless you want to). It’s me standing on a soapbox, telling you, loudly, to book an appointment with your local photographer.
Not your cousin or the lady down the street-unless they’re a professional.
Just book a session. Even if it’s a digital-only photographer. Book them, print a few photos, and hang/frame them to display in your home.
Yes, photography is an investment. But, so are vacations, that gorgeous handbag you’ve been eyeing, your gym membership, or whatever else you’re into.
What’s the difference? Your vacation will come and go. The handbag will get donated over time. Your photos will be around for generations.
I really wish I had known how wonderful photography is, way back then. But I know its importance now. And I know how important it is to have it done by a professional (ask me why I don’t have any wedding photos).
Moving forward, I will be taking photos of my own kids. Lots and lots of photos. Yes, they’re older now. But, shoulda, coulda, woulda.
There’s no time like the present.
Hi, it’s me. Annette, you friendly neighborhood photographer.
If you’re in Southern California and would like to hire me as your portrait photographer, reach out! I love people and kids.
I’m a boutique photographer, and my goal is to photograph you and print your images as art. I don’t want to add one more thing to your “to-do” list. I’ll take care of everything for you, from outfits to hand-delivering your albums and wall art.
Thanks for hanging out and reading my life-changing story. Don’t forget to celebrate yourself every day.
Cheers!
Annette
P.s. I still use a Canon camera, although I’ve upgraded to a fancier one.
