It was around Oct-Nov 2016. I had an email exchange with someone where I complimented him on some concert photos he took. We ended up going back and forth talking about photography. It made me remember that my dad was an Army trained photographer and my memories of him. Then, I remembered that I always said “one day” I was going to learn more about photography too. Particularly, I wanted to know what those “letters” on my camera dial stood for.
That email convo stayed in the back of my mind for a while. I had never said anything to anyone but it made me seriously want to finally “take the plunge.” On Jan 1 2017, I ordered my first DSLR AND signed up for a local photography class. My intention was not to become a professional. It was to check something off my bucket list–to make a REAL, meaningful New Years Resolution.
Before I finished my class, people were wanting to buy my pictures and book me. I had no clue as to what I was doing ( and I still don’t)
After I completed the class, I wanted to know more. I ended up enrolling in the New York Institute of Photographer’s Professional Photography course. I graduated 18 months later
Then I started wining awards, getting accepted into juried art shows, art and photography guilds and orgs etc …and here we are now.
It all started from a simple email exchange and a desire to check off a bucket list item. May I also add that I was in my 40’s at the time.
This year, make your New Years resolution something “real” too. Turn that “one day” into today and/or do something that has purpose and that will change the course of your life for the better.
You never know where it will lead. You are NEVER too old and it is NEVER too late.
~TIffany
TMatt Photography LLC
