Growing up, I loved borrowing my grandma’s camera at family gatherings, snapping photos of my relatives. I was just a kid excited to hold that memory in my hands weeks later after the film developed. My curiosity about technology paired with my appreciation for art. Photography wasn’t even something I thought about — it was just something I did because it was fun and gave my shy self a reason to interact with my family.
When I was about seven years old, I got my very first camera: a small 35mm Vivitar with bright orange details on the back and a translucent green plastic shell. You could see all the little springs and gears moving when you clicked the shutter. That camera went everywhere with me: vacations, field trips, family reunions.
Fast forward to high school: The same family who patiently posed for my endless flash photos banded together to sponsor a study abroad trip to Europe. They even got me a new digital camera to capture the journey. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that kind of love and support laid the foundation for everything I’m building today. I'm forever grateful for the family and friends who believed in me when photography was just a hobby — and even more so now that it's my career.
What about you? Do you remember your first camera?