Photographer talk
Images @Brandeelottphotography
The images on the left are from a recent session, the images on the right are the beginning of my photography career.
“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.” — Robert Frank
Disclaimer: I am not professional of any sort, I do not give “professional” or “medical” advice, my blogs are simply my religious beliefs, biblical devotions, and personal opinions.
Growth happens one step at a time.
The images on the right are from one of my very first sessions after I bought my camera and decided to take the leap from photographing landscapes and buildings to photographing people. Up until that point, I was comfortable when my subjects couldn’t talk back or have expectations—it was just me, my camera, and the world around me.
Switching to people felt terrifying. I remember that first day with Bobby and Blake so vividly. I didn’t really know them, and truthfully, I didn’t really know my camera either. My hands were shaky, my brain was racing, and all I could think was, “Please let me capture something worth keeping.”
That evening, I sat for hours going through every single image one by one. I analyzed, I overthought, I picked apart all the things I didn’t know how to fix. And yet, in the middle of all the nerves and uncertainty, there was a spark. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was the very first step in something much bigger than I could see.
Over time, something inside me shifted. I stopped just “snapping pictures” and started fueling myself to really learn. I dove into editing, I studied light, I practiced until I could see my mistakes turning into lessons. Little by little, things began to change.
Now, when I put those old images beside the ones I create today, the difference is clear. But let me be the first to say—this isn’t me tooting my own horn. I know I still have plenty of room to grow, and there will always be things I can do better. Instead, I share this because it’s such a powerful reminder of what happens when you keep showing up. It’s proof that growth takes time, courage, and patience—and that the small steps matter more than we realize in the moment.
The experience has taught me that just because certain things don’t work for others doesn’t mean it can’t work you! It’s also taught me to stop comparing to others, to create and work on the image I want to create.
Its taught me to just keep showing up— even when I am frustrated with it.
But what’s made this journey truly special isn’t just the progress in the pictures—it’s the people. When I first picked up a camera, I thought I was chasing a hobby. What I didn’t realize was that I was stepping into a purpose. Session after session has turned into friendships. That’s not something I ever expected, but it’s one of the coolest gifts this journey has given me.
Looking back now, I can see God’s hand in all of it. He’s taken my nervous beginnings, my small steps, and even my mistakes, and He’s used them to shape me—not just as a photographer, but as a person. I truly believe He has given me this passion for something bigger than myself.
And maybe that’s the real story here—it’s not about a camera, or even just about pictures. It’s about the journey, the people, the lessons, the friendships, and the purpose that grows when you lean into what God has placed in front of you.