I have always dreamed of photography. It’s my passion. I LOVE it! And everyone tells you if you can do a job doing what you love then you’re really living. Well great–I have a business on the side doing what I love. Life is great.

Except–my 8 to 4 job…not so much. Yeah, I love working with kids. I love seeing them grow and make progress. For those of you who don’t know, currently I am a Special Education Para Educator. Basically a special education teacher’s assistant. I LOVE the teacher and staff I work with. I love the  5 wonderful boys I work with-two in fourth grade and three in third grade. I love each of them. They’re wonderful kids and they have us constantly laughing. But, it’s not my heart and passion. I don’t wake up every morning excited to go into work. I go to work because that’s what’s expected of me and it’s my job. For me–it just pays the bills.

Last year  I was given an opportunity to free-lance for a production company…of course I said yes! Who wouldn’t want to experience photographing “slice of life” shots that could be published!? What do you mean my work could end up in a magazine?! I’ve been free lancing for this company for a year now and with every shoot I go on–I realize that photography, commercial photography is my dream. It’s what I want to do when I grow up. But let’s be realistic Meghan, who actually gets to be a commercial photographer. You have got to be AMAZING at photography. Like a huge name in the Ad world. So while yes, I would love to be a full-time commercial photographer–I could never do that. Or at least no time soon.

So we’ll just stick that on the back burner and go back to school, get my Master’s in Early Childhood Education and make a difference in the world in a way I know I can.

That was the plan–until one of the guys at REJ (the company I was free-lancing for) mentioned at the end of the summer that there was a thought about bringing me on full-time. WHAT?! Nah. But that was it–nothing more came of it.

Nothing more from REJ at least. From God thought, I think that was His way of planting a seed in me. From that moment on– the idea of being a full time photographer never left my head. Which made me realize–what’s the point in going back to school. So I finally pulled the trigger and dropped out of Towson(fortunately I only had taken one class) and focused on my photography. I’ve been studying, practicing, working. Trying to improve myself, improve my skill, improve my photography and build my confidence. Not to mention I’ve been praying my little heart out that God would bless me with a job that I loved, a job in photography, and to help me understand His will for my life and whether photography really was it.

So here’s the punch line–it all paid off! God answered my prayers! In HIS timing!

I am now “photographer/coordinating producer” for REJ&Associates!!! Yeah you read that right!

As of April 1st(or sooner depending on when my position with the County gets filled) I will be an employee of REJ.

What will I be doing you ask?

Well, photography, of course! Duh! But that’s not it. They’re going to grow me and expand my skills. I’m going to be taught videography, video editing, producing, improve my writing skills, photography skills and photoshop skills. That’s just the list for now.

So what does this mean for Meghan Elizabeth Photography? No worries–I’m still here. I’ll still be booking sessions and weddings. This just means that I’ll be better. My skills, my education, my experiences will be better. My confidence will be stronger.

To be honest though with all this excitement–comes a lot of nerves as well. I’m going to be working with some of the biggest names in the Ad world here in Maryland. I’m going to be learning things I never thought about or even have a clear understanding of–so that I can then go a do those things independently. I have a lot of impressing to do without letting people down. I’m going to be taught a lot at a really fast pace…and I need to learn it just as fast.

Those fears however are overridden by my excitement, drive to learn and the knowledge that this is my God’s will. He has brought me to this only because He knows I can do it.