Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Merry Christmas to Betsy!

If you are a loyal blog reader, and Betsy thanks you if you are, you may have noticed that photos of random people have been popping up on her blog. Betsy has hinted at the possibilities of growing her photography hobby into a business, but hasn't gone into details. She still isn't ready for a full reveal yet, but here is a little explanation of what's been going on and what has just happened tonight!

Once upon a time, John and Betsy were given a pretty nice digital camera through some pretty random circumstances. They had a baby on the way, so they figured this was a pretty cool thing. They started to play around with it and noticed that it took WAY better photos than their point and shoot ever could. They continued to practice on themselves and started paying attention to other photographers around them. Once their child was born, they found they wanted to learn more about how to capture this beautiful creature. They kept experimenting, researching, asking questions, buying some new equipment and software here and there and really started to have fun exploring photography.

Friends started to take notice. They asked John and Betsy to take their family photos. Shrugging it off as just people wanting free photos, they obliged. Then more people started to ask for photos, but not just friends, people John and Betsy barely knew. Something really exciting was bubbling under the surface, but they really weren't sure quite yet. Suddenly, friends who are also amazing photographers started to pop out of the woodwork to help them out. It was amazing how the universe just seemed to hand them a camera and continue to give them the tools they needed.

So John and Betsy immersed themselves in photography. Reading, practicing, buying more equipment. They continued shooting anybody that would allow them. (Even enlisting the kids in the neighborhood.) In the meantime, John started his own music studio, Metta Audio and was verrrry busy with that. Betsy would wait until John was done working around 11PM in the evening and she would hop on loading and processing photos, loving every minute of it but frustrated that she had to try to sneak time in at odd hours to work.

Betsy, who has been creative her whole life yet has struggled to find an outlet for it, has found she has come full circle returning to her creative roots. After getting the wrong degree that she didn't use and wasted away in the sales industry, she feels truly invigorated to have found something she truly loves. Betsy figured she would have to return to school someday when her children had grown to try again at finding a new career. She is finding that her creative eye is opening doors to new opportunities to learn as much as she wants.

Betsy and John started to get more and more shoots and they were thrilled, but knowing in the back of their minds that it would be a struggle to find time to load, edit and process all the work during the wee hours of the morning.

So tonight, John purchased Betsy her own Mac so she can load photos when ever she wants. She can schedule as many shoots as Grandma can come and babysit for. She can create a business name for herself, a logo, a website and finally truly have the freedom of time to cultivate her creativity and build something wonderful. (Her photographer friends are probably laughing at the "freedom of time" refrence here, but one can dream!)

Something really great and exciting is happening and it's really going to be able to take off when their Mac arrives next week!

Stay tuned!



If you would like to see the progression of the growth of Betsy and John's photography, check out some of their shoots they have posted from July 20 until November 16th.

Metta Audio Photography Site

They still need to add their latest shoot on there, but you'll get the picture. It's amazing how much they have learned in a small amount of time. That's the great thing about photography, you just keep learning and keep getting better.

6 comments:

Jessica said...

I am sooooo excited for you! :)

Anonymous said...

That's awesome! You take great pictures. I might have to hit you up to do a photo shoot for me some time, what do you charge? :)

Gail said...

Betsy,
SOOO jealous about the big buy! I'll have to check back in with you when I get mine (which, hopefully, if I can stick to this savings budget I'm on, will be May). What did you guys get? An iMac? A MacPro?

Have fun taking it out of the box - that is SO a "I feel like a kid again" moment!

Amanda Mays said...

Congratulations on your transition into a pro! I wish you and your husband many many more successes in all your ventures!

Anonymous said...

Hey Betsy:) Congratulations on your blossoming new photography career! I have always enjoyed viewing your photographs over the last year and have always been very impressed with the unique photos you capture. I can totally see your photography business taking off and you being so successful. I would highly recommend you to anyone! Looking forward to seeing more:)

Anonymous said...

Hey Betsy:) The "anonymous" person in above comment was from me . .. but it didn't print my name:( So, I'm writing this one just so you know the previous one was from me. Hope this one works! Anne