Amy Wenzel Workshop Giveaway!

 Iheartfaces has teamed up with Amy Wenzel for an amazing giveaway! For the contest, each person has to write a blog post about their photography story, who they inspire, and everything in between. It has to be 600 words or less. Oh man, if you know me, you know…I’m a rambler. I will definitely keep it short and sweet for this contest. This is the chance of a lifetime. For real. Amy’s work is amazing. Very inspiring. As well as her husband, David. Check out his blog here.

I’ve never been one to say I’m good at anything. I’ve always flown under the radar. I never thought people did what they loved as a career. That was “strange” to me. Sure, I had a million dreams of what I wanted to do. But, did I think they would actually happen? No. I would join the corporate 9am – 5pm world. This is just “how it goes” I thought. I was settling.

Jump back a decade. During high school I loved photography. I was the annoying kid with the camera. I should have been in yearbook, but that was too much attention for me. So, I took a photo class in high school, and made myself feel satisfied with that. No matter how much I really wasn’t.

 The years flew by, and so did the jobs. I’m not proud to say I’ve worked pretty much everywhere. But, I am proud to say I knew I couldn’t settle. I wasn’t that person. I wanted to be the person that remembers their past and feels completely accomplished, satisfied and inspired.

I married my high school crush last April and had the amazing Jasmine Star shoot our photos. She was my biggest inspiration. Her view on life and everything about her inspired me to do something great. She was doing what she loved. What was stopping me? I was the only one holding me back! So, I purchased a canon rebel. Just for fun. After our amazing wedding experience, I was back to reality. Back to my 9am – 5pm ball and chain. But, one month later, something happened that changed my life. It was amazing.

I had appendicitis.

I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t appendicitis bad? Yes. BUT, I was out of work for 2 weeks because of it. I was bed ridden for the first week. Episodes of The Office were helping me. Alone, my husband at work, I decided to start a photography blog. Just because. I literally would take photos while sitting on the couch of a bottle of cream soda on our kitchen counter, and post it. I tried to capture everything. After a couple days I went to the beach with my mom, niece, and nephew. I took photos of them playing in the sand and water. That moment changed me. I loved it. I craved it.

Months went by and I was taking photos like crazy. I was back to being that annoying kid in high school, just older. And, my wonderful husband was my biggest supporter!  After those couple of months I wanted to really take photography seriously. I upgraded to a Canon 50d and focused on our business. I can happily and proudly say I quit my 9am – 5pm job. I didn’t settle.

More months went by and people were contacting me to photograph them! I couldn’t believe how everything was happening so fast! It was literally a dream come true. Something I once thought could never happen. People are now coming to me with questions and letting me know I’m an inspiration. I still have to wrap my head around those words.  All artists are inspirations to me and it drives me to photograph more, to learn more, to be completely transparent with the world. This workshop would definitely inspire me to push myself with every cell in my body to be something great. Something inspirational.

If I can walk away with just one person saying they dig my work, then I know I’m doing something right. And, I’m proud.