Burrows Photo

In 1998, as a Sophomore in high school, we went to Washington. We drove out to see Mt St Helens and I finally got up the nerve to take my mom's camera from her. It was a Canon AE1 and I found my passion. That was the first real camera I used and a picture I will always love.

I never gave that camera back. I carried it to school, to soccer games, to church, and on every vacation, we went on. As people started to notice my passion; support grew. My high school gave me a full darkroom setup and Photography by Barbara London. I spent hours and hours doing everything wrong in that darkroom and I loved it. I didn't know what was wrong or right so I just experimented. It was that freedom that allowed me to be brave and try different things.

After High School (2001) I decided that I would go to Sam Houston State and study photography. That was a great decision for me. I got to be in a small environment and research what I was super passionate about. As my classmates moved onto more "job secure' majors I stayed the course because I wanted to know all that I could. But I still didn't always shoot for myself but for the assignment. At times this drained me of freedom and a desire to experiment.

During my last semester of school, I started to work for a local studio and darkroom (2004). This challenge was such a fun time but also my passion had become my work and I didn't know how to handle it.  I spent a year at a studio job but I moved on because the pay wasn't enough to sustain my new family. At this studio, I learned so much about photography and business that my schooling could never teach me. I learned about the business side, working with all kinds of clients, building professional relationships, and the studio experience. However just like when I shot for the assignments it was draining.

I became a teacher and photography took a backseat to learn the teaching profession. I got to start teaching art and integrated photography into the curriculum. However, in May of 2012, I was asked to take over a booming photography program. This opportunity was the dream I never saw coming. This opportunity has reinvigorated my passion for photography and let me find myself in this beautiful art.

I still currently teaching but in that, I am striving to follow the life lessons I give my students. I tell them always to put themselves out there, to be brave, and embrace failures as learning opportunities. So here I am putting myself out there.

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