Why I Decided to Become a Photographer


What first got me interested in photography 


I first became interested in photography when I was maybe 9 or 10 years old. I was best friends with my neighbors across the street and her mom was a photographer. She did all genres of photography and sometimes I would tag along and help her at sessions. Basically I was her assistant and she paid me with Taco Bell which I would never complain about! I believe going with her to her sessions really jump started an interest in my creativity and photography. I was learning about lighting, composition, and even how to hold a reflector. I would also talk with the kids and parents. So I was learning to communicate in a different way (which was weird since I was still young myself lol). Watching her edit the photos was also extremely interesting to me because I truly had no idea what she was doing and how she was able to make the photos look even more beautiful than they already were (obviously now I know what she was doing!). They ended up moving away a couple years later but I still had some interest in photography. When they moved she gave me a film camera which I adored until one day it broke and being a kid, I had no money to be able to go and get it fixed.


High school photography film class


A few years after they moved away I was in high school. I was needing to add an elective to my classes and I saw that I could take photography. I immediately signed up for it! It was a film photography class so I learned how to use a film camera and how to develop the film. Watching my film develop in the dark room was always a lot of fun and there's quite a few steps in the process in case you didn’t know! I also learned more about composition and lighting in that class. Since you’re using film, you only have one shot at what you’re wanting to do. I learned fairly quickly on how to get the shot in one try. To this day, that was one of my favorite classes I ever took.


Travel and lifestyle blog 


Fast forward a couple more years and I moved to Germany with my now husband. I was in full time German school and looking for a way to spend my days after classes since I didn’t have any friends and my husband was at work. We traveled a lot on the weekends so I was thinking that maybe I should start blogging about our trips and sharing my travel guides for all the places we went! That’s exactly what I did. I poured my heart and soul into that blog. If I wasn't doing my German homework, I was writing a blog post or editing the photos I took on our latest trip.


I am a self-taught photographer. I didn’t go to school or even take classes online. I watched YouTube videos or read blog posts on Pinterest to learn how to edit photos, which editing program was the best, RAW vs JPG. All the normal photography things I learned on my own and almost everyday for a few years, once my husband got home from work, we were outside and I was taking photos. I was so excited to learn how to use my camera more and all the different settings. 


After a while of just using my point and shoot Nikon Coolpix, I traded her in for a Nikon D3300. This camera was a huge change from my old one and I basically had to learn how to edit all over again. Although, after buying this camera, it really leveled up the photos and content on my blog! But I was wanting more. I wanted something more fulfilling and wanted to step up my creativity. Then COVID happened.

Photos from my Travel Blog

Opening photography business in 2020 


This was probably the worst time for me to consider opening a photography business. We had to social distance and I had NO IDEA how I would even get clients, let alone if it would make money. I had to invest in a lot of things before I could even start my business. Thankfully my husband was nothing but supportive and he helped me set up every single thing (especially all the paperwork that needed to be done in German!


About a month after getting everything set up, I decided on what niche I wanted to do. Dogs. I loved dogs and being around them made me happy. It also worked out as I could properly social distance from people too! So I started reaching out to some families on Facebook and setting up portfolio shoots.


I did about 14 different portfolio shoots and then decided I didn’t enjoy pet photography as much as I thought. I also wasn’t making any money doing it. So I decided to shift into couples and families. I did even more portfolio shoots and that’s when my business started taking off. This was also around the same time that all the social distancing rules were being lifted so it was truly perfect timing. I started getting more and more bookings and I never looked back.

Pet Photos From 2020

First Portraits of 2020

Where my business is today


It is currently 2025 and I am still doing photography. My work and editing style has changed A LOT since I first started and how I run my business is also completely different. I am more selective with the types of sessions I take on and I have made a lot of friends with my clients over the years. I absolutely love my job and I can’t see myself doing anything else. 

Current Work

Where I see my business in 5 years 


I hope by the year 2030, I am doing this as my full time job. I want to be booked and busy 5 days a week and traveling to other countries in Europe to do sessions is the goal! Photography is my passion in life. I love creating images that families will look back on in 20+ years and remember their time in Germany or wherever I am taking their photos! 


“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” – Dorothea Lange


If you enjoyed my story and want to book a session with me, you can book one here!


With love, 

Ash