My Road to Photography

Many photographers have a story about handling their first camera at the age of four and falling in love with the portrait artform before their sixth birthday.

That's not me.

I was a college student before I picked up a camera, and the only reason I did so was because I lost an argument with my academic advisor, Dr. Rita Yeasted.

Dr. Yeasted MADE me take photography courses. She said anyone going into communications (like me) needed to know how to take a photograph.

I was not empathetic. I argued. Told her I was a writer, not a photographer. Told her I was going to take it up with the dean.

None of it worked.

With a very bad attitude, I enrolled in the first course: Black and White Photograph 101. We had a dark room. Noxious chemicals. Film rolls that had to be methodically wound to a developer's reel in complete darkness.

The first class, I hated it. The second, it was Ok. But after the first couple of weeks, I couldn't get enough.

And my advisor was right.

My first job out of college was as a journalist with a small local newspaper group. We had one photographer who couldn't handle the workload. So when I went out on assignment, I took my own shots.

Next I went into corporate marketing and advertising. I was still a writer, but every time we needed photography and we couldn't hire a full-time shooter, I volunteered to take the shots. Business headshots, presentation images, and, my favorite, a shot for an OfficeMax advertising campaign.

Along the way I soaked up knowledge everywhere I could. That first photography course was followed by another. In grad school I filled electives with digital imaging classes. When my team and I created advertising campaigns and videos for clients, I was lucky enough to be on set to watch and get tips from the pros. I learned about studio lighting and invested in the equipment.

It's been a few decades now since I argued with my academic advisor about that first photography class. And after a long career in communications, I retired to fill my time with the things I love most, including portrait photography.

Wherever you are, Dr. Yeasted, I have to thank you. You gave me a gift that has truly lasted a lifetime.