We All Start Somewhere

Here's a real time capsule for you!  
All photographers have to start somewhere, and this is where I started.  Many a years ago, 10th grade Sydney decided that she wanted to take a photography class because she had gotten a camera the summer before.  While that class didn't necessarily teach me what I really wanted to know, I definitely learned the basics and history.  Given that, I shot a lot of flowers and plants because people were scary.  Don't get me wrong, I do occasionally get a little nervous while shooting portraits sometimes; but I had zero idea how to pose and direct. 
A couple of years after that while applying to colleges, I decided that I needed more in my portfolio other than flowers and inanimate things.  So, I went around my high school and asked random students if I could take their photo.  It wasn't awful considering I hadn't taken photos of people before, but nothing compared to what I am able to do now.  I still got into the college that I had applied to with the portfolio, but looking back, I have grown so much! 
(it was SCAD by the way)
I slowly got better and eventually went to Clemson and got a job working with their photographers and the difference that made!  Oh my goodness!  So much progress!  I worked with all sorts of clients and professionals and if you are someone looking to grow, I suggest reaching out to other photographers and see if they need help.  Once I hit Clemson, I began helping with weddings and really building my business.  
Okay now these are what you are here for!  In chronological order, I present my progress.  We all start somewhere. . .
And don't even get me started on the amount of style changes I went through! 
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Top Row:  Early High School
Middle Row:  Mid-Late High School
Bottom Row:  Current