10 years ago to now – My OLD Photography!
This is such fun blog post for me to write, because today I’m reflecting on where I started photography over 13 years ago, and posting some of my OLD photography!
I was talking to a friend of mine about her older photos recently and how we all go through so many steps as artists… ESPECIALLY in the beginning stages. She said my photos couldn’t have been that bad, and then I took that as a challenge.
I decided to start going through them with much cringe and delight. But mostly these photos bring back great memories! I had so much fun making them and coming up with new ideas with my friends and family.
A Time Before Instagram…
There are now so many resources and ways to learn how to be a photographer on the internet that just weren’t available 15 years ago. I remember the first dial up internet for crying out loud and I started photography a few years later, so I guess I’m an old geezer in the photography world.
It took me a longggg loooong time to get to the point where I am now as a photographer. I did not start with a good camera and I learned photoshop completely on my own. I didn’t buy any classes from big names or learn how to photograph under anyone. While this took me way longer to learn my craft, I also learned many tricks that make my work unique.
What I had to work with
My gear was minimal. I started with a Nikon D50 and a kit lens (gag me)
Phone cameras sucked, (am I old?), I apparently wanted to turn people other vibrant colors, but I could learn a few things from my creative ideas back then. When you are young you aren’t burdened by as many expectations, and I think that allowed me to try some pretty wild things.
Am I proud of my past work?
Absolutely. I’m proud that I had the guts to get out there and try things.
There are definitely MANY images that make me want to do a face palm, many of which I can’t even bear to show you haha. However, it’s also nice looking back at them because each photo was a fun day out instead of sitting on my 17 year old butt watching tv.
Honestly I couldn’t find the worst worst ones from the very beginning because I’ve erased them from internet history over time, shame on me. But I hope you enjoy some of these gems. So here I go with some of my old photography!
Sorry about all the crazy signatures – it was a time of confusion….
15 Years Ago
This is one of the first images I had uploaded on the art website I joined. I just love pink feet don’t you?? But I was trying to think out of the box!
Girl what is you doing?!? Why you so green?
Oh thank goodness, we found a chair guys.
Well… over editing is being a tragedy here. I should try and redo some of these now…
OKAY BUT WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO TRY TO CREATE A MOLE TECHNOLOGY PERSON WITH NO GOOD PROPS?!
halp. help.
8 Years Ago
make way for Jack & Jill in direct light and a blue vignette! (but my friends were soo cute)
That time I watched a ton of tutorials on photoshop-
This is a take on the song “It’s My Party and I’ll cry if I want to”. I still think this is super sad because it’s one of the saddest thoughts to me, people not showing up to a child’s birthday party *tear*
art is happening
Girl we were giving you CONCEPTS! This was a visual take on gossiping.
I played around for years with making “characters” in my photos, using makeup and wigs and all kinds of things to create models who were more than every day. My clown idea: I’m still into it.
I basically did this photo so I could dress up and live my dreams so… yeah definitely.
I loved the idea of the “faceless” subject, I had such moody taste. (…still do deep down…)
When you edit a photo until the trees need help but your little sister is awesome.
One of my self portraits where I wore a bunch of wigs and put on all kinds of makeup. This one is a more normal one…
6 years ago
me being extra as heck
My sisters, called “dreamscape” which I still love!
found a projector
did she really neeeed to hold a disco ball?
I am dead serious I did this makeup at my costume makeup class and then walked around campus to get home to photograph it.
I. was. fearless. Would not do this now. Well maybe. For the photo. But would not be in this situation again.
a few older favorites:
Well there you have it, some photos throughout the years. I’m so amazed to have found what I was meant to do in high school and am still pursuing it over 10 years later. Looking back over all those years of my life through my work is pretty surreal. My eyes would pop out of my head if I told my 15 year old self that I’d be making images and living in Hawaii now as a full time wedding & portrait photographer.
Thanks for coming along and reading through this post with me, it was a special one!
Rae Marshall is an Oahu Wedding Photographer also specializing in engagements, couples, elopements, senior portraits, maternity and more currently booking for photography sessions in Hawaii and is available for travel for select projects.
Check out my current up to date galleries HERE!
