Jared Loc: Indiana

I was thinking to myself(more like fantasizing) about getting my name out there in my hometown, and I started wondering where everyone found their start. So how did you come to be the photographer (pro or hobbyist) that you are today? What was your first move? What was your biggest leap? This is more of an open question for anyone and everyone to share their stories. I hope it will be fun and entertaining for myself and others who read. Thank you
-Jared

MadMike Loc: SALT LAKE

When I was a teenager, my brother came home after being in Viet Nam and Germany. He had started taking pictures and set up a DarkRoom in an old washroom bathroom next to our trailer. He went on to do professional work for Product Catalogs, but eventually quit and got into stereos and computers but still does a lot of photography. I learned from him, but never did much untill about 2 1/2 years ago when I bought a Nikon D3000. Now I'm disabled and use photography as a THERAPY. Keeps me buisy, and people like what I do, so I guess I'll keep playing. Now use a Nikon 5100

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I started in high school in a club, got on the newspaper & yearbook staff, got a job at the base photo lab and newspaper in the Philippines (I'm an Air Force Brat). A few years after I came back to the US, I joined the Air National Guard and went to the USAF photo school on Denver for 6 months (paid).
I worked at a daily newspaper in Oklahoma City and later full-time at the medical school while getting my journalism degree.
Took a few summer classes at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology)
Got married, my wife got transferred to Kansas City 6 months later and I had to start all over again. I found an internship at a commercial photography studio .. Vedros & Associates. http://www.vedros.com/overview.html Nick is a genious at lighting and thinking outside of the box. My stint there was an eye-opener.
Went on to do assisting there and several other commercial studios around town, including Hallmark cards. I learned so much assisting! Did a few years of freelance and we started having kids. The travel and hours were not great for family life so I found another university job. I still do free-lance jobs along with my full-time job. A small collection of my portfolio is on my profile page.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I started with a Kodak Instamatic 110 in the late 1960s when I was in the navy. I got my first SLR, an Olympus OM-1, in the early 1970s.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

I have always had an interest in photography since I was young but didn't really get into it more than a minor hobby until August 16, 2009 when I was asked to be the local fire dept photographer after photographing 2 fires in the city in 6 days time. (I have relatives in the fire service and I did a stint as a fire dept explorer from Feb. 15,1998-Aug. 4,2001.) After being asked, I have got into it majorly but have yet to get pro gear.

heyjoe Loc: cincinnati ohio

i started last year,at age mid 50s,with all the new gear out there,i have found it overall very easy,not sure about the old days,with 35 film and light meters,7d 17-40 70-200 50 1.4

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

I got a "Donald Duck" camera for Christmas at age 11. By age 17 I was in the business and haven't been without a camera since. Worked as a photographic journalist for a major newspaper in Nova Scotia for two years, was the public relations photographer for the Chateau Lake Louise in Banff National Park in Alberta, studied studio portrait lighting and posing under one of British Columbia's finest Master Photographers, then jumped into my own business which I still operate today. Still have an intense passion for photography that started with that darned "Donald Duck" camera in 1949.
What is the lifespan of a photographer? You do the math.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Do you still have the Donald Duck camera?

katbandit Loc: new york city

for as long as i can remember i would take photos with any camera that my parents gave me..gosh i can remember those little instamatics with the little cubes that you would put on the top and it would spin 4 times with the little flashbulbs in each side...as i got older i would buy better cameras ..buy books on photography ..i used to be a letter carrier and there was a camera store on the route..the owner there would teach me something new each time i went in there..eventually i put up a darkroom etc..
i got into pro work in the 80s and early 90s because one of my neighbors mother worked at a photography studio ..saw my work ..hired me and i did work from studio ..proms...weddings etc..on the weekends.burning out after 4 years of having 2 jobs... that was the film days...
now I'm retired from my job...had sold all that equipment years ago..picked up new digital nikons ..love learning the new digitals..and get to enjoy it all over again...i

rcrosby825 Loc: Western Maine

Thanks for a chance to re-live a 60 year old memory.
One of the first "pictures" I ever took.
Snuck into my sisters "oh so off limits" room in total darkness.
Felt around for the cardboard box that I knew held her mother cat and newborn kittens;
Pointed the Browny box camera my dad had given me in the general direction of that box, clicked the shutter, and crept back out into the daylight.
I learned a little bit about light, exposure, composition, etc. since then, but that's how it all began.
;-)

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

I wish! Bet it's worth something today. All I have of my old cameras now is a folding camera from 1906. Takes a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 film pack and has an incredible lens and shutter.

Fun just to look at on occasion.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i just turned 60 a few weeks ago..and i never cared for photography until about 2 years ago. at my day job, i am a media specialist..which basically is the guy that takes care of all the graphics, video, photography, etc.....
i have been a photoshop expert since 1997..so i always figured i could take a bunch of photos...and just fix the best one in photoshop. a couple of years ago, i was doing the photography for 4000 products to go into our catalog.............it took monts to fix everything in photoshop....thought i better learn how to shoot pictures properly. i took some seminars and a few personal training sessions and that started me off............i really got interested when i became part of this cool forum. i bought a ton of studio and camera equipment....most of which i didn't need..but i have been educated on this forum.
i love photography and taking photos is a daily part of my day job. it spilled over to a part-time photography biz and i am busy as i want to be, my phone never stops ringing. i will never leave my day job as i have the best one in the world, but i plan to retire at 62...and then just do photography.

i love it..and big thanks to the forum!!!

GEEJAY Loc: witness protection

My Dad had cameras.In 1946 I went to work for Liberty Photo Finishing.In the mornings I would pick up roll film from various retail store.The rest of the day I would work at a PAKO print drier.Liberty camera was below us a retail camera store.I purchased a Speedgraphic 2 1/4x3 1/4.I later purchased a Kodak Retina(small c).Just upgraded to Kodak Retna S,a SLR.Many cameras after that.

chinajack Loc: nw chicago

I started in 1963 I was in Gitmo guarding the fence line one day on one day off and on the days off there was nothing to do so I purchased a 635 and started to take pictures and have been doing it ever since.

Jared Loc: Indiana

These are all enjoyable stories! Keep them coming!