Eight years ago, a girlfriend and I sat down and decided to follow our dreams.  I ended up moving forward on my own with the idea, and in August of 2007; one of the smokiest, wasp infested summers to date, I shot my first wedding.  With the help of my newly married hubby on a little handheld video camera, we did it.  I edited the photos to the best of my rookie knowledge, put them together with video and music and delivered this extravagant wedding video slideshow to my clients.  Thus was the start of “Oh Snap! Photography”.

(just look at that sweet logo!)

I look back on that and get a little sentimental.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was one of the scariest things I have ever done.  I was lucky to have a full time job to fall back on, but I was taking a chance on something I was passionate about… which is scary, am I right?

I couldn’t have done it without my amazing family backing me. Thanks to my Dad, I was able to start this adventure with a brand new little rebel XT.  I brought that camera out the other day and just stared at it… I tried to imagine photographing an entire wedding with that little thing!  But you know what? It got the job done, and the photos were still great.   (am I willing to share any of them with you today? Mmmm, probably not… 😉 )

I eventually upgraded my gear but I still wasn’t totally committed to my dream.  It wasn’t until Amelia was born, that I was really able to say: “okay… let’s do this.”  I quit my job and bought a new lens, that Christmas (the 50mm f1.4.  If you have been around me during any wedding or shoot, you will probably hear “can I have the 50? At least 100 times in a day. It is still, my most favorite lens.  It totally changed my life).  And, the rest is history.  From that moment on, I have been going full speed ahead and working my tail off to really make something of this company!

(I don’t want to go on and on and reminisce about the past, but it’s a huge part of where I have come from and what brought me to where I am today.)

Today, I am saying goodbye to that part of my story.  After today, I will no longer be “Oh Snap! Photography”.  It will always be a part of my company, and forever a part of me… but today I move forward as Kiralee Jones, Photographer.

I really wrestled with this idea.  I have been wrestling with it for over a year, in fact.  I LOVE Oh Snap! Photography, and I love what it has become but I am not that 21 year old girl anymore.  I have changed and the industry has totally changed since I started.  I am still keeping my license plates though 😉 I just can’t give those babies up.  I will always be Oh Snap! Photography but I am so excited to see what is ahead.  I can’t wait to continue to learn, and grow with the most supportive and amazing clients in the world!  I owe ALL of this to you guys.  Thank you for being on this journey with me <3  Be sure to check out the newly designed website as well!!   www.kiraleejones.com

xoxo