My Progress in Photography || Greater Chicago Graduation and Family Portrait Photographer

I love seeing fellow photographers’ progression in their style and imagery! It’s like going through old photos and seeing how much you or someone else has changed except we’re looking at the photographer’s growth in their skill, not their physical growth! Occasionally, I like to go back and look through some of the first images I took back in 2014. Honestly, I cringe a little at my lack of knowledge and skill with the camera, especially with everything I know now. But it makes me appreciate how much I’ve grown in photography! I actually understand how light works and definitely have a greater appreciation for it; I’ve learned to use new tools and programs that help make editing quicker, and know so much more about capturing awesome images in-camera! I’ve come a long way since 2014, and I’m about to take you with me through the past four and a half years.

Ready to see all the old cringe-y images, the juxtaposition, and the vast differences? Here we go!

The first image was one of the first pictures I took with my DSLR! As you can see, I’ve gotten better at taking pictures of notebooks!

This is probably not the most attractive angle of my dog… but I figured it out two years later.

These next few images are specifically senior and graduate portraits

Here are two portraits taken at the same place, but different times; what a difference!

I had a thing for brick walls apparently.

One year apart

I have yet to take my family portrait this year, but here’s a comparison of three different years of general family portraits!

The progression of praise brand photos. They definitely went from dark & moody to light & airy!

Ah, yes, that tilted angle.

Same person, same place, only a year and two months apart. Isn’t it crazy how much can change in a year?!

Even my self-portraits have evolved!

There are still areas I need to improve in, and I firmly believe that you never stop learning in any skill. Yet, I’m proud of my progress so far; four and a half years later and I found my style and I’m actually confident! I hope this is an encouragement to everyone. Doesn’t have to specifically be photography, but whatever you’re good at or whatever you love to do, whether it’s learning a new skill or advancing in an already-learned skill, or maybe you just need encouragement to do a task. I hope looking at these progress images of my photography journey will encourage you! It takes time. It takes gumption. It takes never ending practice. But you’ll get there, friend! Don’t give up!