08/24/2023
Over the last several years, I have been asked to take pictures for others, whether it be something as simple as portraits or as complicated as a sporting event. To each, I replied, "I’m not a photographer; I am a burger flipper; my sister is the photographer.” Over the last 3 years, I have spent time taking pictures of my children and other teammates of theirs so that they could have these moments to look back on as they grew older. What started as just my hobby quickly turned into something that others cherished more than I ever could have expected. I have spent many hours behind a low-end cropped-frame camera learning every inch of capturing these moments, but yet I would still dodge every nudge from those who believed in me, because after all... I am a burger flipper, and my sister is the photographer.
This year, like every year, I spent 3 weeks in my favorite place, and on every trip, that little camera was packed at my feet, ready to shoot whatever I could possibly bring to life. I never felt like it was much, just memories for myself as my children grew older or for my husband and I to look back on when we are too old to continue making those trips. It was the third day into our final trip when I took this picture of our middle boy, and for the first time I thought, "Man, I should probably believe in myself a little more.” After 3 years and many threats of doing it, I said good-bye to that little camera and upgraded! 15-year-old me would be ecstatic; she always wanted to be behind a camera.
So here’s to the next chapter of my life— it’s titled: "I’m not just a burger flipper; I am also a photographer.