Two Years as a Northern Colorado Photographer: Learning, Growth, and What’s Next

As we near the end of December 2025, I’ve been thinking a lot about the last two years and how unexpectedly meaningful they’ve been. I picked up my first camera in December of 2023, at 39 years old. There were photographers much younger than me who seemed to be miles ahead, and photographers my age and older who had been doing this for a long time. I didn’t really feel like I fit neatly anywhere — and at the time, I didn’t even know I wanted to be a photographer. 

Learning the Camera and the Craft 

I bought a camera because I wanted better photos of my son wrestling and thought I might get into videography. Instead, I fell hard for photography. The first year was about learning how my camera worked and how to see light, composition, and moments more clearly. I didn’t allow myself to use manual mode right away, and while that made things harder at times, I’m glad I learned the fundamentals first. 

That first year was also full of investing — upgrading my camera, building out lenses, and spending countless hours learning through videos and practice. In my second year as a Northern Colorado photographer, the growth felt different. I continued to learn technically, but more importantly, I started to understand what I truly love to photograph and what feels most aligned with me creatively. 

Finding my Confidence and Style 

This was also the year I learned how to use off-camera flash. While I don’t use it for every session, it’s given me more confidence and flexibility, especially when lighting conditions aren’t ideal. My editing style has evolved during this time as well, and it’s finally starting to feel like me — something I’m excited to dive deeper into in a future post. 

Over these two years, I’ve become confident in my art. I know I can consistently deliver meaningful, high-quality images, even under challenging conditions, and I’m more eager than ever to keep learning and growing as a photographer. 

Looking Ahead to 2026 

Looking ahead to 2026, my focus is shifting slightly. I want to continue growing creatively, but I’m also ready to put more energy into the business side of photography — making fewer gear purchases and investing more in things like advertising and workflow management so this can grow in a sustainable way. I’d also like to break into branding photography, as well as (coming back full-circle) videography. 

Two years in, I still feel like I’m at the beginning, yet right where I belong.