ChrisMarie Photography

Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. Yet, here I am, 26 years old, doing technical support for an accounting software company. I never thought I'd say that. Mainly because accounting is what my dad does, and I didn't think I would do anything even semi-related to what he does. I thought I had life all figured out when I was younger, but clearly life doesn't always go the way you think it will.

Even though I am not Ms. Hogewoning to students at a school, I am okay with that. As I've gotten older, I've gained an even greater respect for teachers. I have watched many of my peers go through school, do their student teaching, and land jobs as teachers as schools all over the US. I admire them for the hard work, determination, patience, stress, and everything else they go through to have the title of Mr./Ms./Mrs. to a classroom full of students. All of that being said, I still love teaching, but for now, school is not for me, as a student or a teacher.

Since leaving BYU-I and student life in fall 2012, I have tried to decide what I want to do. I honestly don't know why it took me so long to figure it out. Actually I know exactly why. Because I always thought that going into the arts isn't exactly a reliable industry. I felt I needed to do something that we would always need, like teachers. That sounded like a safe, reliable, and stable career. Over the last few years, I have thought of many different things I might enjoy and/or be good at. I've contemplated a number of jobs/careers. But I always come back to one thing-photography.

Just a year ago, I thought that becoming a photographer would be something I would do in the distant future. It didn't seem like something I would do anytime soon. But once again, my plans changed. I immediately decided I would move to Utah and pursue photography since those are two things I've been wanting to do for quite some time.

I've lived in Utah for nine and a half months now, and I'm finally going to start building a photography business. This is my unofficial announcement of ChrisMarie Photography. (I say unofficial because I don't have a business license yet. And to me that seals the deal, but I know it won't be long before I have a license.) I'm excited to finally be doing something I love so much! I have lots of ideas, thoughts, and goals for the future. I've been blessed to have met some incredible photographers who have shared their wisdom and knowledge about exactly what I want to do. The greatest thing I've learned in the last nine months or so is that I can have the business I want and be the photographer I want to be. I think part of the reason I was never serious about photography when I was younger is because I assumed you had to fit some mold and be some certain kind of photographer. But I have recently learned that is not true. It has been liberating and motivating to know that I can do exactly what I want and chase my dreams.

While I was in San Diego for a wedding at the end of May, I did a few sessions. I just finished processing a session of one of my best friends, Catie, and her husband, Ty. I have posted my favorite images on my photography site. Here is the link to check them out: Catie & Ty. I hope you'll enjoy my work and follow me there! I'm excited to continue capturing moments and cherishing memories of those I know and others I've just met.