365 Project – Day 278 – StoriTyme Photos

“It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.” – Lucille Ball

Most people that know me know that I am a writer. That started as soon as I was old enough to hold a pencil and form words. My love of photography developed later. In middle school, I started taking photos for fun, and then in high school I got hooked when I took my first photography class and learned to develop photos in the dark room. Call me crazy and old-fashioned, but I still dream of having my own dark room someday.

I was a little slow to the whole digital photography scene, preferring to shoot film with my old Pentax K-1000 and develop the photos myself when I could. For years, the only digital camera I owned was a first generation Nikon Coolpix that I carried with me and only really used when I ran out of film in my Pentax. I finally upgraded to a DSLR camera, figuring that it was inevitable if I was really going to take my photography to the next level, and in 2010, I did just that when I launched my own photography business, StoriTyme Photos.

I am primarily a photojournalistic/lifestyle shooter. I’m not a big fan of most staged or posed shots that are heavy on props. There are people who can do it well and make it look effortless, and I give those photographers a lot of credit for being able to create something so beautiful. Maybe it’s just because I have always seen the world through a writer’s eyes, but I have always been more naturally drawn to candid photos–photos that freeze a moment in time, photos that tell a story.

I have to give my sister Kassie a lot of the credit for the StoriTyme Photos name. Back when Steven and I were thinking about starting our family, Kassie got it in her head that our first child would be a girl and that we should name her Stori (Steven + Lori). I did a lot of brainstorming about what to name my business, I knew I wanted something unique that would set me apart from other photographers. When I started thinking about my overall philosophy when it came to photography–wanting to tell a story through photos–I decided that incorporating the fact that I am also a writer was very important to me. I thought “Story Time Photos” sounded perfect, but after a lot of thought, I decided to change up the spelling and make it StoriTyme Photos because, without my husband, none of this ever would have been possible. He is truly the business head behind my business, and the guy I go to when I need technical help with my computer programs or my website. If it weren’t for his left-brain, anal retentive bookkeeping, I’m sure I would probably still be working for free and not even realizing it.

Unfortunately, just as my business was really starting to pick up in Arizona, Steven was offered a new job and we moved to Nebraska. It was frustrating, having to start over again from scratch, but at the same time, I see so much potential for me to develop and grow my business in our new home. It is just one small step at a time. My biggest challenge right now is to finally get my website finished (yes I’m trying to do it myself for now, one small piece at a time), and to restablish myself and get my name out here in Nebraska. It’s been a bit slow going as we have been settling into our new lives here, but I’m finally starting to feel like I am making progress and moving in the right direction.

So now, if you’ll indulge me, I’m posting a link to my StoriTyme Photos website. It is still largely under construction, but I’m slowly piecing it together. I finally got the blog portion up and running, and added all the new sessions that I have shot since moving here to Nebraska. I’d love some feedback on it, so if you have a moment, head on over and check it out by clicking on the photo below. Thanks in advance!

Today’s 365 Project entry is dedicated to my dear husband for being my biggest supporter as I dive headfirst into my writing and photography careers, to my clients for believing in my vision and giving me the opportunity to share in their lives, and to my fabulous group of SASsy photographer friends who provide me with unending support and encouragement. I am truly blessed.