My story
My Story with Photography
My story with photography—real photography—started recently. About 19 years ago (2005), I bought my first digital camera, the Olympus E-300.
But let’s start from the beginning. As a little child, I loved looking at photos in my mother’s album. She had a passion for taking photos, not professionally but as a hobbyist documenting family life. Her collection included everything from family gatherings to more unconventional shots, like a photo of her mother lying in a coffin during the funeral. I know, it’s an unusual occasion for photography, but, in fact, I did the same in a similar situation later in life.
What captivated me the most in her album were the old black-and-white photos, printed on mirror matte photographic paper with ragged edges. They had a charm that I’ve always admired and still do. There’s something timeless about black-and-white photography.
My mother’s first camera was a Russian Zenit SLR. In the 90s, she upgraded to a Kodak automatic film camera for convenience. However, the photos taken with the Zenit were much better in quality, thanks to its SLR design.
Whenever I had the opportunity, I would borrow my mother’s automatic Kodak to take my own photos. Eventually, I bought myself a point-and-shoot Kodak film camera.
It wasn’t until I emigrated to England in 2005 that I purchased my first digital camera with my monthly salary. This Olympus E-300 was for capturing everyday family moments and hobbyist photography. The beauty of digital was that photos cost almost nothing, so I took a lot of them. And by a lot, I mean a lot.
These were amateur photos—snapshots, really.
When I married my love, Paulina, we hired a wedding photographer whose work left a lasting impression on me. It wasn’t just the equipment he used; it was the quality of his photos. At that time, I didn’t know anything about digital SLRs, lenses, or flashes. All I could see was the beauty and professionalism of his work.
I also saw the potential—the idea of making money as a wedding photographer. Back then, it seemed simple: buy a good camera, take a lot of pictures, and profit.
To be continued…