What Kept Me Going When I Almost Quit Photography

Did you know I’ve been doing this since 2016?

Yeah… it’s been a while. But back then, photography was just a hobby. I was still new, still learning. If you scroll all the way down my blog, you’ll find my very first post — back when I was building my portfolio with my cousins’ quinceañeras and sharing my heart, even the mental battles I was going through.

I built my early portfolio with family sessions and quinceañeras. And let’s be honest — my first paid quinceañeras didn’t go perfectly. The images weren’t great. I didn’t really know how to pose or direct. I even had to refund one client because I just didn’t know what I was doing. I was still finding my editing style, my confidence… my voice.

In 2018, I made the decision to treat this as a real business.

What I didn’t expect was just how personal the journey would become.

At the time, I was quietly dealing with depression — for years, actually, all the way through 2023. It affected my confidence, my finances, and yes… my art. If you’ve been following me since the beginning, you’ve seen me talk about it here and there — not often, but it’s shaped everything I’ve built.

And now it’s 2025.

I’ve been doing this for seven years.

Seven years of growing, struggling, learning, and showing up anyway.

There were so many moments I wanted to quit.

Like, really quit.

I was ready to cancel this website. Shut down my CRM. Sell my camera. Walk away from it all.

I was stuck — doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

(Which, let’s be honest, you just can’t do in business.)

I was tired of re-editing my website, tired of posting the same photos on Facebook hoping the right client would magically appear. And then one day, I just sat down at my desk, hands on the keyboard… and cried.

I prayed.

I asked God:

“Is this for me? Do You want me to keep going, or should I let this go? If this isn’t for me, tell me clearly. I’ll shut it down. I’ll cry for a week — maybe longer — but I’ll let it go.”

And right after that prayer, a friend messaged me.

She asked me to take photos of her with her kids, parents and siblings. She had been one of my first maternity clients, and now she wanted family photos. I took that as a sign. A message from God not to give up just yet.

But I still kept praying that same prayer… because honestly, I was still tired.

I was still in the thick of it.

Then one day at ASU, during a senior session in front of the Normal School, I had this moment I’ll never forget. I was directing Jamie, my senior client, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man walking up to us. My first thought? “He’s going to tell me to leave. That I can’t take photos here.” I braced myself for it.

But instead, he smiled and said,

“I see what you’re doing.

Keep going.

You’re doing great.”

All I could say was, “Thank you.”

But later, in my car… I just cried.

I knew in my heart — that was God.

He heard me.

He saw me.

He answered.

From there, I started investing in myself. At first, not very wisely — I joined programs without much research or direction. But eventually, I found Boutique Breakthrough, and then later, Peak Performers — a year-long coaching program that changed everything.

That’s when I finally saw myself as an artist.

My work became more than pretty pictures. It became artwork.

I leaned into albums, wall portraits, and the full boutique experience — the kind where you walk away with something real.

Something that lives in your home… and in your heart.

Let me say this with love and respect:

I am not just a digital photographer.

I don’t offer quick 15-minute sessions and call it a day.

What I offer is artwork —

A planning process.

An intentional session.

Beautiful, finished pieces that tell your story.

Yes, I’ll help you get stunning photos of your daughter in her quince gown… or you with your kids… or branding images that show your strength and purpose.

But please know — when you work with me, you’re working with someone who has spent seven years learning, investing, falling down, getting back up, and putting her whole heart into this.

Behind the scenes, I’ve cried while writing blogs.

I’ve stayed up late editing.

I’ve struggled with consistency.

(Yes — consistency in blogs, in social media, in showing up. It’s hard.)

And still, I show up — because this means something to me.

And I don’t take it lightly. Only God can ask me to put this down.

Now I get to witness the kind of moments that remind me why I kept going:

📖 A mom flipping through her daughter’s quinceañera album, crying, smiling, then flipping through it again.

🖼️ A family seeing their wall portrait and saying, “That’s so her… her laugh, her hair, everything.”

📷 Parents seeing their memories come to life in a way they can hold, hang, and treasure.

That’s why I do this.

That’s what I’ve been building toward.

And I’m not done yet.

This journey hasn’t been perfect — but it’s mine. And it’s still unfolding.

It’s not just about taking photos.

It’s about celebrating your family.

It’s about creating something you can touch, flip through, hang up, and pass down.

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This blog post turned into so much more than I planned.

But maybe that’s the point.

This is more than photos.

This is my story. This is my heart.

And I hope it serves you in some way.

If you’ve read this far — thank you.

If you’re curious about where I started, scroll down my blog and see how far God has brought me. He truly broke chains I never thought would come off.

And if you’re ready to decorate your home with artwork of the people you love most, I’d be honored to help.

📅 Click here to book a session

Let’s create something worth remembering — and displaying proudly in your home. 💖