Leaving Seychelles to go study in Russia was what drew the line between my hands and a camera. It played an essential part along my road to becoming a photographer. Even though I had a fascination for cameras since a very young age, it was during my journalism course that the journey to becoming a photographer started. During my first year, we had to cover photography. Our tutor introduced the group to film cameras. He had us take photos around the university grounds to later develop in the dark room.
That spark got lit right there and then. Soon after that particular class, I found myself heading to the nearest camera store and grabbing a Canon D1000 kit. Yup, that was my very first DSLR, and we were inseparable. Whenever I went to the mall, the park, or even the nightclub – everywhere I went actually – I brought my camera along. Unknowingly, I was using the people, events, and landscapes around me as practice, paving the road to becoming a photographer.
From there, the passion just grew. I experimented, made mistakes, and made unnecessary investments. Most importantly, I learned and taught myself digital photography. Looking back at those days, I never would have imagined I would get to where I am today.
Fast forward to 2015, I got back home, pregnant with my son, and started working as a journalist. Between being a mom and a full-time worker, along with the support of a few people, I did quite a few collaborations to build up my portfolio and, subsequently, my online presence. Showcasing my work online landed me my first paid job. That first session was the scariest, but, slowly, I got into the rhythm of it and landed where I am today.
I know that this is just part of my relationship with photography. I am sure the journey ahead will be one filled with further growth and achievements.
