how it began

Photo Credit: Rachel Abramowitz

“Call me when you get there” Robert, my boyfriend of exactly 58 days, said as he closed the trunk of my 2010 KIA SOUL. We walked hand in hand to the front of the car.

I nodded. I couldn’t get myself to say anything. This past summer has been a whirlwind. Between leaving my cushy job, moving away from the state I had called home for 22 years and meeting the best human a girl could ask for; I was overwhelmed by the thirty different emotions I was feeling all at once.

I was taking a leap of faith into the unknown, which, if you knew me, wasn’t something I often did. I like to be in control. I like to understand, process and execute. But this time, there was no processing. This time there was definitely no real understanding. And this time, there was only executing. I went with my gut and my gut was now completely terrified.

“We are going to be ok. I know it” Robert said as he pulled me into a big hug. He brushed the hair away from my face. All I could do was nod again. I was on my way to Western Massachusetts for ten months and as I stood there in Philadelphia, staring into Robert’s deep, gorgeous blue eyes, for the life of me, I couldn’t remember why I was going. Robert let go and turned to open the car door.  I should stay I thought.

He gave me a big smile, nudged me to the front seat “let’s go, you need to hit the road and start your adventure already” he said with his award winning smile.

He was right. Robert is always right (don’t tell him I said that).

I had to go. I had this incredible opportunity and I wouldn’t let it go to waste. Hallmark Institute of Photography was waiting for me and I wouldn’t let my fears and insecurities get in the way. I promised myself I would get everything I could out of this experience. I promised myself I would give this a real shot. I promised  myself I was going to live photography, breath photography and do nothing but think about photography…and maybe the gorgeous, blue-eyed, law student who was waiting for me back in Philadelphia.

I was giving myself ten months. Ten months to go outside my comfort zone, move to New England and see if I got what it takes. Ten months to fall even more deeply in love with the art of Photography. Ten months to figure out how the heck to start a business and if I could make this entrepreneurial thing work. In the grand scheme of things, ten months was nothing and I owed it to myself and to my soul to go up there, to freezing cold Massachusetts and give this photography thing one hundred and fifty percent.

So with tears falling down my face and with my Google Maps calmly telling me to make a left onto Girard in 200 feet. I gave Robert one last hug and slowly, climbed in to the car.

“Ok. I am ready”  I said turning on the car and starting the ignition.

“It’s only ten months. We got this!” Robert said.

“We got this” I repeated.  He closed the door and stood back. I put the car in drive.  Looked out my window at Robert. He waved. I pulled out of his drive way. Robert was still standing there. I looked back one last time before turning onto Girard. He was still standing there…and with that I was on my way.

To be continued…

Missed Part 1 & 2? Don’t Worry! You can catch up here!

How YPP Began Part II

How YPP Began Part I

Want to keep reading?

How YPP Began Part IV

Photo credit: Robert Goldberg : )

One week later: 

As I walked out of the metro station and turned to face DC’s Chinatown, I put my hand on the camera bag that was hanging from my shoulder. My Dad let me borrow his Canon Rebel and I was terrified of loosing it. I started walking down the street to the Starbucks on 7th, right around the corner from WeWorks.  I checked my watch, I was a little early, and I was NEVER early. To me, this meant one thing, I was SUPER excited to be there. As I ordered my customary Grande Soy Chai Latte (something I could never imagine ordering now), an older man, probably early 60’s, with long hair, a funky Hawaiian shirt, a cane and a fedora walked up next to me as we waited for our orders.

“You must be a photographer?” He nodded over to the camera bag on my shoulder.

I laughed. “Not really.” I say as I adjusted the bag strap awkwardly. “I’ve never actually used this camera before. I am about to take my first photography class.”

“That’s great! I love photography!”

“Really? I think I am going to also!” I said as the barista put my latte right in front of me on the counter. I grabbed the drink, muttered a quick thank you to the barista and said goodbye to the older man.

I was feeling pretty good about my new found hobby as I crossed the street to the WeWorks. I saw one other person waiting. Before I had a chance to introduce myself, I heard “Are you guys both waiting for the Photography Class?” I’m Sam.  I will be your teacher!” I turned around and lo and behold look who it is, the older man from the Starbucks. He had the biggest grin on his face as he watched my surprised expression.

He unlocked the door and held it open for us.

“What kind of DSLR do you guys have?” he asked as he turned on the lights and gestured to the conference table.

“What is a DSLR?”  I asked as I pulled out my seat and sat down.

“You must be a beginner” he said with a knowing smiling.

“Is it that obvious?” I carefully took my dad’s camera out of the bag. To be honest, it was the first time I was using any kind of camera, besides my phone and the disposable ones that I absolutely adored back at Jewish Sleep away camp, which totally doesn’t count.

The rest of the class started filtering in behind us “Welcome to photography for beginners. Let’s get started, shall we?” And with that, class began.

One hour later, I walked out of WeWorks. One thing was brilliantly clear, my life had changed forever. I know, it sounds a little dramatic, but it is 100% true. I cannot even tell you what Sam said in that one hour class, I cannot tell you which buttons I pressed or what I photographed that day, but I can tell you that I thank G-d everyday that I found Sam’s class online.

As I walked towards the metro ready to head back to Silver Spring. I pulled out my phone and texted Marisa. “What would you say if I told you I want to be a photographer.” I stepped onto the insanely long escalator, put my phone in my pocket and adjusted the camera bag again and felt a new type of warmth and satisfaction. My adventure began and I didn’t even really know it.

To be continued…

Missed Part One? Check it out here: “How it all Began Part I”

Want to read part III?: Check it out here: “How it all Began Part III”

“You need to just get a hobby” Ayelet said as I was sitting across from her at the table in her College Park, Maryland apartment as she was making her infamous caramel cookies. She was literally the best baker and I loved nothing more than pretending like I was helping her create her delicious masterpieces.

” I know, but I don’t even know what I would do.” I said as I unwrapped another caramel for her. That was the problem. I didn’t know what to do. At 23 years old, I was miserable. I disliked my DC production Assistant Job. I wasn’t happy with my social life. Don’t even get me started about my non existent love life. I felt like I had nothing going for me. This was not how it was supposed to be. I mean, I did it all right. I went to college. Had the internships. Got the degree. Started a job. Why was I already this unhappy!?

Ayelet started collecting all of the unwrapped caramels from the table and looked over at me “Just PICK something. If you don’t like it, pick something else.” I sighed and switched the conversation over to her and her graduate school applications, at least she was doing something exciting.

As I drove home that night I decided that she was right. I just need to find something fun to focus on. I could really pick anything. I got home. Put my car in park and decided that I was not going to go inside until I picked a hobby.  So of course, like every good 20-some year old,  what did I do… picked up my phone, opened the internet and went to google…

“50 top millennial hobbies” was the first link that popped up. I clicked it.

Learn a Language… Nope

Garden… Ugh I have such a brown thumb

Baking… That’s Ayelet’s thing

Ceramics… UHHH

Meditating… Ya, I don’t think so

Dancing… I mean I like dancing, but I’m kinda REALLY bad at it

Photography… Now that’s a possibility, I just don’t have a camera. 

Improv… That’s a joke… Right?

After a few more minutes, and a few more lists. My mind kept circling back to photography. I read, “Adult coloring books,” for the fifth time and shook my head. Photography it is! I was going to do it! May as well give it a try right? Spending a few hundred dollars on a photography class couldn’t hurt.

I pulled my key’s out of the ignition and was pretty damn satisfied with my decision. I was smiling as I walked into the house. My roommate Kaleigh was snuggled up on the couch with her cat, Leo, watching HGTV as always. Jess was in the bathroom curling her hair getting ready for her shift and Anne was cooking something up in the kitchen… Things could definitely be worse, I thought as I settled into the coukch next to Leo. It was time to find a photography class. I pulled out my phone again and began to search….

To be continued…

May 22, 2014: Check out my blonde hair … thank god I grew out of that!

Check out Part II & Part III here: “How YPP Began Part II”

“How YPP Began Part III”