“I am going to be a food photographer” I assured myself as I sat on i95 on the way back to Western Mass. “That’s what I want… Right?” I sighed. I couldn’t help it. I’ve spent the last 10 months putting all of my time, energy and heart into becoming the best food photographer possible. My entire student portfolio, business plan and marketing strategy were based solely on food photography and I just couldn’t change the plan now. I just couldn’t.
As the New Jersey Turnpike traffic came to a halt, my mind went back to that afternoon. There I was, mopping the kitchen of the Philadelphia Food Photography Studio I was interning at four times a week, minding my own business when all of a sudden I hear, “Yael!” The head of the studio screamed” As he approached the kitchen, he held out his hand “Clean this spoon! We need it on set in 30 seconds! Hurry!”
As I rushed to the sink to clean the spoon as quickly and as well as possible, my phone vibrated in my back pocket. “Where is that spoon!” I turned off the faucet and grabbed a clean towel so I could dry and walk towards the set. “YAEL!”
“Here it is!”
“Try to be faster next time, we can’t be waiting all day for things as silly as spoons”
As I went back to the kitchen, I felt my shoulders drop, I was only four weeks into my internship and I already felt defeated. Is this really what I wanted to do with my life? Did I really go back to school to end up here? I felt my phone vibrate again. Maybe it’s Robert! It wasn’t, but it was a text message that changed my life forever.
“Yael, No words can describe how incredible these photos are. I cry every time I look at them! We haven’t had family photos done in over 10 years and I just can’t believe how beautiful we all look. I am speechless! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
My heart was singing. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe how much my work impacted this woman and her family. I couldn’t believe that I could make someone that happy through my photography! My passion! I felt a rush of happiness, pride and excitement! I was smiling uncontrollably and almost forgot where I was.
“Yael! We need bread!!” reality came crashing back. I put my phone back in my pocket and grabbed the loaf of bread.
HONK HONK! Traffic started moving again. The closer I got to Western Mass, the more it became so incredibly clear… I wanted to be a portrait and wedding photographer. I wanted to impact families. I wanted to capture love. I wanted to make a difference. By the time I reached my driveway in Greenfield Massachusetts, I knew exactly what I had to do. First thing tomorrow, I need to talk to Richard Barns.
Missed Part I – IV?? Check it out below!
