My love for photography began seven years prior to "SI." It helped me through the most difficult time in my life when I couldn’t do the things I normally loved to do. Two years prior to SI, I decided I wanted to start pursuing photography as a career and everyone thought I was crazy, including myself. Photographers don’t make money, there’s so much competition. We all hear it. I continued with a job that made money while pursuing photography and officially launched my business the beginning of 2018.

I had everything in place and ready to go, but I was missing one essential thing… confidence. I had all the technical skills (or so I thought prior to SI) and the business knowledge, but I needed more time behind the camera with other people in front of me and to not question my ability while I was with them. I wanted clients to feel comfortable. SI provided this and so much more.

The instructors were top notch and always available, the hands-on aspect was exactly what I needed, and I was challenged in ways I didn’t think were possible. You will hear everyone say it’s not called “intensive” for no reason. It was intense for all the best reasons and photography was all that was on my brain for a month and a half. And I loved it!

I learned much about myself and the best part was that I built life long friends from across the county. These friends I still stay in contact with on a regular basis and will the rest of my life. They are truly like family to me and the whole RMSP staff now feels like family.

When I sat down to talk to Sarah Chaput de Saintonge (School Director) about the program a few months prior to SI, we discussed whether I'd attend SI that summer or the next summer. She said I would question myself the whole year if I waited until the next year. She was correct.

I now feel completely confident with my camera, working with clients, and my editing skills. The SI program propelled me to the level of photographer I was hoping to become. I will never be satisfied with my skill and will be learning the rest of my life, but everything I expected to achieve after completion was met, and far more.

If you are questioning whether to do it now or next summer, you know what my answer is! Life is too short to postpone following your dreams.