What can I say about my business...?
I've always loved photography since I was about 10 years old - when my uncle gave me my first ever compact camera. I got so excited that I rushed downside and took loads of pictures of anything that took my eye. I remember grouping my soft teddies, panda, etc in a group and taking their picture, and even taking pictures of the place I lived. However, it never got processed and I never had any films brought for me after that...
I was never encouraged by my parents with it or any of the hobbies I had through my childhood. It was a shame really, as I was always more into art and crafts at school than any of the other stuff they did. But when I did it at home I did tend to be criticized for it by my father. I don't know why as it was harmless fun and never hurt anyone.
Anyway, as I grew up, my interest in arts and crafts seemed to fade away... until I stumbled onto photography again when I was around 18 years old - when a neighbor gave me a broken SLR camera. This revitalized my interest in my hobby again, as this time I could afford to buy my own camera and film. So I went out and brought the same camera as the broken one so I could use the lens it came with, including the other stuff it came with. I used take it with me on bike rides and even practiced doing night shots on Tile Hill Lane, as it was close to home. I enjoyed it so much that I did a Foundation Photography Course at my local college. I followed this up with a City & Guilds in Photography & Graphic Design. But this is where it ended.... the course ended and I moved on to other things. It wasn't because I'd lost interest in it or anything. I had my City & Guilds certificate and I was really proud. But seeing as I didn't find another course and hadn't found a job, I had to go back on benefits, and showed it to the lady working their to see if she could help find me another course or maybe even a job in photography. Well, she wasn't that impressed with my certificate, and told me that too many people are in the photography field and I'd never find a job with just a City & Guilds certificate, and that it would be best to give it up and find something else. She even dismissed going on further training courses as there is no future in photography. So I believed her and tried to look for something else...
I tried computers like Word Processing, Database, etc. I hated it and quit the course. Then I tried Video Production, and Computer Technology (to become a computer techie). I did them both while helping out at my local gymnastics group where my niece was training. I loved the Video Production course but hated the Computer Technology course. However, both courses came to a stop when I got a job in a computer shop. I really didn't want to quit the Video Production course but had to as it clashed with my new job. The job wasn't what I really wanted and I was unhappy. But I did it and continued to help at the local gymnastics group after work and on my days off (as my nieces hours their had increased). But after just two months, I lost my job. I was sort of happy as I really hated working there but was upset that I'd let my family down. But I helped out more at the local gymnastics group and had put my name down to train as a coach. But as the hours increased, both mine and my nieces interest faded, so she decided to quit, and I followed suit and stopped helping out.
I really didn't know what to do after that, so just tried various work from home oppertunities, and lost lots off money along the way. So I sat down and looked at my interests and skills... and it was here where I saw what I wanted to do with my life. I hated computers, didn't want to work in a shop, and seemed to want to work from home. I saw that throughout everything I did, my photography was something that I continued to do as a hobby, and was really the only area I was skilled in and had any real love for. I had also noticed that I did seem very interested other photographers I'd seen around the city, and even felt jealous that they were making a living off their photography. So I decided to go against what I was told in the dole office and try and do what I wanted for a change. So I enroled on a professional photography course with the intension to got into business once it had ended. It felt so good doing something I wanted, and was so happy when I got back on a photography course again.
The course wasn't easy but I did very well. My photography was improving and found that I did seem to love portrait photography. So this was what I felt was the best area for me to concentrate on. And as soon as the course ended, I set about trying to make my dream a reality. A few years after the course ended, I finally set myself up in business. A new venture but something I think I should have chased after much sooner.
Hopefully, my new business will blossom into a successful business, but it is early days at the moment... so let's hoping for a bright future!
