In the past I have blogged about a couple of the people that love to come out and help me — just for the love of it. Today’s post is written by one of those very people. Please leave her some comment love as she generously agreed to guest post today!

Hey there. My name is Darbey.  I’m 15 years old, and I’m totally head over hills in love with photography. And this is kinda how it happened…

It was  a year ago in May of 2010 when my family and I went to New York City for our first visit. Everybody was getting ice cream and trying to find out where our bus had gone off to when I saw this old man sitting on a bench reading a news paper. I thought to myself,  “This is the old guy just needs his picture taken..and I kinda just want a picture of him!”  As I’m thinking this, I run over to my mom who always has her camera and demand that she hand it over before this guy sees what I’m trying to do and runs away. After I get my mom’s cannon rebel, I walk over near where the man is sitting and start clicking! This guy had to have known I was taken his picture because I was about five feet away from him and he just sat there and kept drinking his coffee and reading his paper. I took about two or three pictures before I started to feel a little creeperish.  That’s when my little sister came running up at me yelling “Take my picture!!”  I put the camera up to my eye, and push the button ready for the click sound that I love so much now and nothing!  I try again…nothing!
I walk over to my mom dreading the thought of telling her that I had somehow just broken her $1,000 dollar camera.  As you can imagine, she was none too happy that the remainder of our New York City trip would have to be photographed using my older sisters very cheap (many times dropped) little pink camera!

By Christmas time of the same year my love for photography had grown.  When I opened my gift it was the camera that had broken in NYC.  Of course, it was newly fixed up, and I immediately started taking pictures left and right!  The next day I took my whole family outside in the snow and took over 300 pictures in about two hours. I was in love with my camera from that moment.

Now days I work with several Photographers (one is Carol Anne) that I admire and respect when they are willing to let me tag along to assist them and learn from them. I take my camera just about anywhere I go…friend’s houses, parties, family outings, etc.  You never know when the perfect photo opportunity will come along!  I’m working on a Project 52 where I have a photo assignment every week of the year.   I’ve taken pictures for a few friends, and I love it when they ask.  I have a master plan, too.  I’m going to work hard on my photography skills through high school then I’m going to college to study photography and business.  One day, I want to own my own business and call it Darbey’s Hot Shots. It’s a work in progress, but I’m on my way…. at least I hope I am!