How I got into Photography

Back in the mid-90s yeah, a long time ago I was a 16 year old kid playing drums in a high school rock band. We weren’t famous, but we had dreams. I was saving up for a new drum set to record some music we had been working on. To scrape the money together, I took odd jobs and worked in a warehouse.

One random day in my high school history class, I really had to use the restroom. Mr. Lewis gave me the nod and motioned to the bathroom pass a toilet seat cover. Clever idea, honestly. The security guards could easily tell where you were headed just by looking at that pass.

High School Rock Band 1998

Me on Drums

As I walked back from the bathroom, something unexpected happened. Out of the front office walked a stunning young woman. She wore a long pencil skirt and a crisp white button-up shirt and high heels. She was heading toward the arts department. Curious (and definitely a little smitten), I followed.

I opened the door to the darkroom. The only thing that stood out was her, she was glowing against the dim background like some kind of angel. In the softest voice, she asked, “Can I help you?” Nervously, I replied, “Yeah, I’m here for… Photography.” I had spotted a camera in the shadows and went with it. She smiled and said she was the new photography instructor filling in. She told me to talk to my counselor to get added to the class. I ran to the counselor’s office and practically begged on one knee. She added the class.

Me in High School 1997

(Image enhanced for the blog)

One of our first big assignments was to photograph folklórico dancers on stage for Cinco de Mayo. We were only given three exposures film, not digital so every shot had to count. Most students rushed to the center of the stage. I couldn’t find a spot, so I stepped aside. I moved to the left corner of the stage to observe. While tying my shoe, I accidentally pressed the shutter button. I groaned, thinking I’d wasted a shot. I quickly got into position and took the remaining two.

A week later, we developed the photos. To my surprise, that accidental shot caught Miss Smith’s attention. She called it different filled with light, movement, and emotion. The female dancer’s dress flowed with motion blur, but her face was sharp and focused. A male dancer in the background was caught mid-leap. It looked like it had been perfectly planned. I confessed that the photo had been a complete accident.

She smiled and said, “Photography is 99% light and 1% luck. That 1% made the photo.” That quote stuck with me. It made me look at things differently. While other students were shooting portraits for the yearbook, I was out capturing water droplets on grass and sunbeams breaking through trees. Miss Smith noticed and that would come up again later.

A couple of years after high school, I got back from a short music tour when my phone rang. It was Miss Smith. She wanted to meet for dinner. I was 18, curious, and very interested in seeing where this would go.

I showed up at the restaurant and gave the hostess my name. She said, “Ah yes, the Smiths.” Wait the Smiths? I thought it was just going to be her. But when I got to the table, there she was still radiant standing next to a man. Her husband. My heart dropped a little, not gonna lie. But then I learned something that changed my life.

Jay, her husband, was a professional photographer and instructor. Clair (Miss Smith) had started out as a model for him. They fell in love, and she later took over a high school photography class while he was out for medical reasons.

That night, they told me the real reason for dinner: They wanted me to photograph them. Not just any portraits they wanted implied artistic black and white images, and based on the work I had done back in school, they believed I was the perfect person for the job. They offered to pay me, and I couldn’t say no.

That same night we drove to Jay’s professional studio a place straight out of a movie. A massive white room, modifiers, gear, and lights everywhere. He asked me how many lights I needed. I had no clue, so I randomly said “three.” Clair went to get ready, and Jay gave me a serious talk: “When Clair comes out, look her in the eye. Ask if she’s okay, if it’s too cold, or if she needs water. Keep your eyes where they belong.” I nodded.

Me at 18

I had just came back form a short tour

She came out, and I froze. I focused on tidying up cables like I used to do for band gigs safety first. I finally asked if she was okay. She smiled and said, “I’m fine.” I was nervous but determined. Jay eventually told me to relax and take control. That’s when it clicked. I started seeing the light, shaping it, adding modifiers, creating shadows and highlights. It was thrilling. We finished the shoot, and they paid me generously.

A few weeks later, Clair invited me to a party. I brought my drummer friend Dorian, she was a painter and fit right in with the artsy crowd. Designers, models, and photographers mingled everywhere. At one point, Jay called everyone to the living room. He thanked everyone for being there and unveiled a surprise a 4 by 8-foot canvas of the photo I had taken of them. My jaw dropped.

Clair glowed in the image just like she had in the darkroom that day I first saw her. The crowd applauded, and soon people were asking if I could photograph them too. Designers, models, even photographers offered to lend me their cameras. I ended up shooting around 12 people in the following months and made good money doing it.

But then, music pulled me back in, and I didn’t touch a camera for years. The digital revolution happened, and I missed the whole transition.

Years later, my wife and I moved to Arizona. On a visit back home, I ran into an old photography classmate. He had become a successful photographer. During a visit to California, we crossed paths, and he asked if I still shot. I told him no, and he pushed me to get back into it. I laughed it off at the time.

But something stuck. One day at home, I bought a DSLR completely new territory for me. But from the moment I held it, I didn’t want to put it down.

Photography found me again or maybe I never fully let go of it. And I still believe what Miss Smith told me all those years ago:

Photography is 99% light and 1% luck.

Photo Samples
(Note: These are not photos of Miss Smith but images inspired by that one unforgettable day. They feature models I’ve worked with over the years. Some photos may be NSFW, representing artistic nudes or implied nudes.)