Waybright Photography
Photography… I never would’ve chosen this profession as a career, but I’m thankful it chose me.
Throughout high school, I thought I knew what I wanted to be when “I grew up,” but I really had no clue. I went college to be an architect; dropped out after two years. Then I went to a different college and studied writing. I worked as a news reporter for a few years, but the news industry slumped, and I was left wondering what to do to provide for my family.
I prayed, sought advice from friends and family, and I took a leap of faith and joined a school photography company called LifeTouch. The rest is history. I learned my foundation through LifeTouch and then Olan Mills, and went on to open my business Waybright Photography. I had no clue what I was doing, but I felt overwhelming, divine peace about it, so I moved forward. That was 2006.
Fast-forward 12 years and I’m now serving several realtors throughout my region with real estate photos. On top of this, I provide high school senior, family, engagement, maternity pictures and more. At the end of almost every shoot, I’m left literally with blood, sweat and mud on me, but a smile tattoos my face. I can’t erase it.
“You do what you love and you’ll never work.” Photography is something that “grew” on me. I believe it’s a blessing from above; something that not only pays the bills but gives me joy.
In my 12 years or so, I’ve photographed thousands of people and objects, but one of the most notable was a family I worked with last year. I was coming off a 13-day work week full of high school senior shoots, photo lessons and real estate shoots. I was stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted. The afternoon came, and it was time yet again to go to work. So, I travelled to a little park to meet a family for their shoot. I didn’t know what to expect.
I arrived and unloaded my equipment, set up lighting and chatted with the family for a few. JeWaan, Hannah and their 2-year-old boy Wren were happy and smiling; ready to get their pictures taken. Little did they know how mentally and physically drained I was. But, we began the shoot and something truly unique happened.
I set my lighting, grabbed my camera, and before I could pose them, they posed themselves. They started laughing and joking with one another before I could say a word. They were just happy and bubbly. Naturally, I grabbed my camera and started capturing natural moments between this small family. This is how it went for the next 90 minutes. The only direction I provided was choosing the background. This happy little family did the rest.
It seemed like every image captured was “unposed” and “unscripted” love and interaction. That photoshoot helped take all the physical and mental strain I was feeling, and erased it. I left the shoot feeling revived and refreshed. Hannah, JeWaan and Wren blessed me in ways they’ll never know during that shoot…
Enjoy the images below, and to view more of Waybright Photography's work, click here.
