You Gotta Start Somewhere
My current iPhone has photos since my 2008 original iPhone 3.
Over 15,000 images, 1,700 video clips telling stories of the last 13 years of my life.
2008 was a lifetime ago.
I was newly married. I was working 2 jobs, making between $10-15/hr and somehow bought a new iPhone, so I thought i was cool. These photos tell the stories of that time, but they also include something very special to me.
Our first Shadow Box Studios shoot.
This was before lighting, paperwork, emails, social media, storyboarding shoots, learning to edit, sending invoices, etc.
We had subjects, hair and makeup, a camera, and some fun creative ideas.
…On second thought, this was even before the name “Shadow Box Studios” came about.
My close friend, Tegan, had the hair and makeup skills and the creativity.
I had the camera and the passion to pursue photography as a much bigger part of my life.
Now, looking back at these photos. I always cringe at my older work. I can’t believe I’m even posting this, but there’s so much more to this than the selective color and bed sheets for props.
The meaning has changed. You ever listen to a song you loved as a teenager? A few years go by, you still love the song, but you hear it differently.
We didn’t know it then, but this evening was the start of my photography career that led me all over the world, taking photos with my friends and family, and leading me down a career path I deep down knew I was always passionate about.
With no experience or mentors at that time, I had a lot of fear and uncertainty.
And today, even with experience and mentors, I still have a lot of fear and uncertainty. But the fear tells me that I truly care. The uncertainty can be kept at bay. It doesn’t overwhelm me like it used to.
I mean, c’mon, I take pictures for a living? This should be a breeze, right? Not exactly.
Over these years, I’ve seen so many people start out passionate in their photography journey…and fizzle out. Why? Well, a variety of reasons. These typically include money and life stuff getting in the way. But I think that’s typically just an excuse. You gotta grind it out. Some people catch “success” quicker than others; some have to work harder, longer.
I didn’t make money for a long time. I still kept tile labouring during the day and doing janitorial work in the evenings, fitting in shoots at any free time.
I still remember being excited to split the $600 Tegan and I charged to shoot our first wedding. Then I tallied up the hours and expense. We lost money on that one, but, in doing do, we established a name amongst our peers that led to many more weddings, shoots, an established business, and eventually the studio that we’re still in in 2021.
I don’t like being nostalgic too much these days. I’m excited for the future.
But I’m sharing this because I’m thankful and appreciative. And I hope this little story may inspire even one person.
Those photos above didn’t age well. We’ve come a long way since then.
But I look at them and I’m still proud. I see great memories with friends. I see the origins of weirdness and creativity and made our style unique. And the journey continues.
~ Scott Bruck
Shadow Box Studios Ltd.