Tina Jay Photography | Philadelphia Wedding Photographer

I realized that a little over a month ago, it was my 2 year anniversary.  With my camera.  Ohhh, what a wonderful 2 years it's been!  When I step back and think about it, I still can't believe I am where I am today.  I remember when I first started out in my photography journey - there were SO many times I thought about giving up on my dream.  It was SO much work to just "figure it out" on my own, with no one to guide me but the photography books I bought (I could probably fill a bookshelf with the books I now have!).  But even though it was such hard work (harder than I ever expected) in the beginning, I realized something - even though it was hard, frustrating, and time consuming, I LOVED it.  I loved every minute of it.  I just absolutely got lost in photography, every free moment I had.  Whether it was reading books to figure out what the heck I was doing, or just walking around the city practicing with Jay, I discovered I really had a passion for it.  And someone recently told me (can't remember who) - if you can't go a day without thinking about something, you should never give it up.  If you had told me one year earlier, graduating from Penn State with an accounting degree, that in the next year I would start my own wedding photography business, I would have told you that you were CRAZY.  But here I am, two years later, LOVING where life and photography has taken me.  I've learned so much, I've discovered my passion, and I realize I have a drive that I never knew existed in me.  But I was, and am, totally DETERMINED to make it work.  No matter what.

I've also met some amazing people along the way, that I'm truly thankful to have in my life now.  Heather was my very first photography friend, and I absolutely, with out a doubt, believe I wouldn't be at the point I am today without her.  She helped me in the very beginning with the basics, let me tag along to a few weddings, and always answers my endless questions over g-chat.  She is the sole person that made me realize it IS possible for me to follow my dream, and is a constant encouragement to follow that path.  For that I will be forever grateful of her.  I also met Gail at the MJ 2 Day workshop I attended this past May - I feel like we've been friends forever!  I absolutely LOVE having a friend that is in the same stage of her business as I am - just to chat about photography, vent about being INSANELY busy, and share little tips with each other....it's another friendship I'm blessed to have - can't wait until you visit in April Gail!

So Happy Anniversary.....to me...and my camera:)  What a great ride it's been so far - can't WAIT to see what it holds for my future:)

And to end the post, here is a picture of something new that I love - lately I've been LOVING night time photography, and I want to do more night time photo-shoots in the city:)   (Oh yeah, I love you too Jaime....but you already knew that:)  This picture was taken with the ever-coveted 50mm 1.2.  Ahhh, I can only dream to have that lens some day soon!