When I was 8 years old, I went to see Star Wars for the first time in the movie theater. I remember sitting in that dark, crowded theater, eating my popcorn and being mesmerized by the story and the special effects. Maybe it was the journey and excitement of a young boy coming from nothing and discovering his potential or it was the death star blowing up and the electricity crowd all cheering that inspired me, but in that moment I realized I wanted to tell stories on film. When I was 13, I was asked to video soccer games and I did that up until my senior year of high school. It was my first paid “gig” as a videographer and I saw it as an opportunity to pursue my dream. I was certain I wanted to go to Film School when I graduated. Until…
I was sitting in my guidance counselor’s office and he said, “You’ll never make any money with a degree in film. You need to focus on science and technology. That’s the future.” His comments crushed and terrified me. I thought I knew what I wanted to do. Now, I was in a tailspin of indecision. What my guidance counselor didn’t know was as a child growing up, I regularly heard the words, “You don’t have the brains that god gave a goose.” You see, I grew up thinking I wasn’t smart enough or good enough. The idea of becoming a film maker and story teller was my answer to that message. It gave me hope and the thought of giving that up frightened me. But, what he said also caused me to question if my choice of going to film school was the “smart” one? Because of my lack of self confidence and my desire to make the smart decision, I put down my camera, picked up my pencil, went to college, and somehow, graduated with a degree in clinical science.
I was quickly hired by one of the local hospitals and I soon discovered I hated what I did. I felt like I was stuck and I stayed for 15 years believing I had made my choice and I had to just stick with it. But, being surrounded by tragedy, sadness and lost love ones, can really take its toll on you. It left me depressed and unmotivated.
My life changed one fateful October evening, when I was called to the ER for a hay-riding accident and I watched as a couple lost their 12 year old daughter in the ER. Experiencing their pain and devastation, I realized, “this is not what I want”. I wanted to celebrate the beauty of life and tell peoples stories, not watch them go through pain and suffering. I became determined to leave the career I had chosen and decided to pick up my camera and partner with my wife, Jill (who is a fantastic photographer, by the way) to start our own photography business.
I can’t say that my time at the hospital was for nothing. It helped me awaken and rediscover my true passion, and I’m grateful for that lesson.
It’s been almost 15 years since I left my job at the hospital and we have made it our mission to share the stories of our clients through photos and video. Facing the challenges of building our own business, we’ve also discovered a passion for helping other businesses tell their stories, as well.
My journey has taught me that life is precious. We can lose sight of the things that truly matter. People matter. Our stories matter. It’s what connects us, helps us relate to one another, and leaves a legacy for those who follow. My journey isn’t finished. It continues with my goal to tell everyone’s story. I hope I can tell your story too.