Aaron Perez
I can't tell you the exact moment I decided I wanted to be a photographer, it was more of something that I kind of fell inlove with over time. The earliest moment I can remember picking up a camera was back was when I was 8 or 9 years old, It was a very simple film camera. But I can remember going outside and taking pictures of everything, giving the roll of film to my parents, then going to Costco to get the developed photos. I would have to say it was something I always looked forward to, I was so fascinated by how the little square "toy" could make pictures. My first digital camera was a 0.2 megapixel keychain camera. If the battery dies before you put the pictures on your computer, you lost everything! But it didn't stop me from taking pictures of everything. I really wish I still had some of those pictures.
Back in 2010, I was a senior in high school and I took a photo class with an amazing teacher, Jillian Jacobson. Neither of us knew it back then, but she was probably the biggest inspiration to me to become a photographer. I was never really good at sports, and was by no means the perfect student in most subjects, but photography just clicked for me, it just made sense from start to finish. I loved trying new things to make my photographs stand out from other in the class, I loved it. I definitely owe so much of what I know now to Mrs. Jacobson. I can honestly say I don't think I would be where I am today if it wasn't for her believing in me.
When I attended Fullerton college, I went in wanting to be a business major, but wanted to take a photography class for "fun" on the side. I still had no idea photography would become my profession, it was just a hobby I loved doing. Quickly it turned out that the most demanding class I had that year was my photography class. The professor, taught all of her classes as if she was running a business. It really forced me to grow up just to be able to succeed in her classes. For my finals we had to photograph an event. Another talented photographer in the class and I paired up and shot a wedding, my first wedding. I must admit to you though, it was nothing special, I had no idea what i was doing back then. But it was the first time I thought of making photography my profession. I took all of the photography classes that Fullerton college offered the following years. My passion for photography grew with my knowledge of it.
After graduating from Fullerton college I started working with a very successful photographer who took me in and showed me all the tips and tricks to be an amazing photographer. Now i'm on the road to start my own photography business. This is the only profession I could ever think of that no matter how hard I work at it, I never feel like i'm actually working. You know what they say, "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life." And I must say, with the amount of work I put into what I do, i'm so glad I will never have to work a day in my life.