How Taking Just One Photo a Day has Changed My Life #Introduceyourself

Hi Steemers, since you all seem to be introducing yourselves, I thought I'd give it a shot too.

 A rare shot of one of the most elusive animals on the planet: The Photographer. 

I am Melissa, I live in Atenas Costa Rica with my husband, our two small sons, our street mutt Pancho, and I am the photographer at Bebecitos Fotos.

I have always been interested in travel and photography.

Here we are, young and child-free, gallivanting across the world. Those were the days! Clockwise from top left: Eating "Run Down" on Corn Island, Nicaragua. The Pelican Bar in the middle of the sea near Black River, Jamaica. The fountain park in Lima, Peru. Machu Picchu. A mini super on Little Corn Island. The Blue Carribbean off Little Corn Island. A tunnel on the tracks up to Aguascalientes in Peru. Artisan Cheese for sale in the Mercado at Cusco, Peru. Colorful dye in Cusco. Graffiti in Budapest, Hungary. Sipping beer in Olympos, Turkey. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Drinking beer and riding bikes in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. A baby llama in Cusco, Peru. An Incan woman in Cusco, Peru. My beloved husband in Lima, Peru. Center: Machu Picchu.

In 2012, our first son was born and our lives changed entirely. Travel ground to a halt, and the only thing left I had to photograph was our family. 

Clockwise from top left: My husband on the Ferry to Montezuma, Costa Rica. my older son on the docks in Balboa Island, California. Huntington Beach, California. Sleeping. Waking up. Crawling around his room. Breaking my heart with his Blue Steel. Our really old cat, Porridge. Funny hair with dad. Waking up, #2. My parents, sad that we don’t live in California with them anymore. Walking!! Butterflies hatching in Costa Rica. Fat thighs. Cool guy. At Punta Leona in Costa Rica. Center: My heart melts.

As I started to take more photos of him and his little friends, I noticed that I was getting better, that my photos stood out from other "momtographers", and that I really enjoyed taking and sharing my photos. So, I decided to start taking photos for other mothers, too, and I started my website. 

At first all I had was a little moxie and my point-and-shoot camera (a Canon G15). I priced my services next to nothing ($40 for a 2-3 hour shoot, delivering 50 finished photos) so that people were willing to take the risk with a newbie. Then I posted some ads in a few Facebook groups, got out there and started shooting families and kids. In that first year I earned enough to buy my professional camera (a Canon 70D) and a couple lenses. The next year I kept shooting families and kids, and at the end of that year I was able to buy my first really nice lens (the Sigma 35MM ART) and a faster computer to keep up with my editing. I was in business and making good money. (Good ≠ a lot. Basically I am able to support an expensive habit.)

Then in 2015 I started a 365 Project. For those who aren't familiar, a 365 is the commitment a photographer makes to take a post one photo, every day, for a year. So I did it.

Clockwise from top left: My older son in Panama City, a few days before the baby was born. With his best friend. Sick with an earache. At the hospital in Panama. My big pregnant belly. Graffiti in our town, Atenas Costa Rica. The baby meets himself. On his “motorcycle”. Brothers. Learning from his mentor, our cowboy neighbor. Our little Panamanian. Playing cars in the closet. Born yesterday. On his first trip to California. Baby fingers. Reaching for the light. Center: When we were still just “three” at the Hard Rock Hotel in Panama City.

In that year we welcomed our second son, lived in Panama City for awhile, said goodbye to our 18 year old cat, celebrated birthdays, took trips to the beach and lived our lives in Costa Rica. And, towards the end of the year, I started to notice that my photos were much better, that I had learned more about light and subtle editing, and that with a little patience and good luck you can capture real emotions. Magic. 

Now we are halfway through 2016 and my second 365 Project.

Clockwise from left: At the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Fireworks in Huntington Beach, California. Sink bath. Sleeping with his “blankie”. “I want to be a Pilot when I grow up.” Tutu in the kitchen. Cool guy #2. The horses in our yard. First time on the swing “higher, higher!”. Sad baby with his blankie. Mango season! Zoom. “Can I eat this dirt? No? No.”. “Geronimo!!” Jumping on the bed. My heart melts, #2. Center: My heart melts, #3.

I still shoot for clients, and by shooting every day my work has gotten better for them too. I have developed my style and have built a list of loyal clients. I’ve raised my rates five-fold and am busier than I was back when I was charging next to nothing. I no longer have to advertise myself, I can keep busy from referrals alone. It takes work, and a lot of time, but creating a photography business from scratch can be done.

The goal of my 365 project is capture our lives so we don’t forget, but it’s also to be a better photographer. To grow and develop my art. This has definitely happened. And I have changed, too. By looking for a photo each day I have started to see the beauty that surrounds me; to see the moments in our life that are art. I appreciate these small moments, I savor them and capture them.

 If you have any interest in being a better photographer, I say Do it! Pick up your camera and start taking photos. It doesn’t have to be a lot of photos, just one a day, and I promise by that the end of the year you will be so much better. And, if you would like to be paid to take photos, I say Do it! Start a website, find some people, and start taking photos. You might make a little money (very little initially) -- perhaps enough to support your photography hobby -- but you might also find your passion and change your life.

I’m excited to be here a part of this community, and look forward to posting more. Since I’m doing this 365 Project I hope to be able to post everyday. I’ll be posting photos and stories of our lives, and will include the settings info on all of my photos so that you can see how I do it.  Follow me if you'd like to see more of my life in Costa Rica.