My First Love: Photography

In the month of love, I reflect on one of my first loves…
Photography.

My First Love: Photography | Zaakirah Nayyar

Even though music was my love even before I could speak or even walk, photography, in all honesty, was the first to help me find my voice and personality.
It was only later on down the line that I was able to co-marry my loves of music and photography.

For those that do not know, here’s the story of how a Camera Saved My Life:

It was an image that my mom took of me when I was about six months old; although it took two doctors before diagnosed with cancer, had it not been for that one image, there’s no telling where I would be today.
I’ve had my interest in photography ever since my mom introduced me to a Polaroid camera when I was 5 or 6 years old. There is something that sparks an interest in me of photographing moments in action, looking back at them, and being able to tell what was happening and the present emotion. 
After that, for about five years, I would use the Kodak film cameras that needing processing at convenience stores. I would use that camera to capture events or for my travels since I often voyaged with my parents.
When I was in 7th grade, my mom gifted me with a digital camera. I used that camera to capture everything – moments with friends and family, their facial expressions, self-portraits and of course travels.
As a sophomore in high school, I purchased my first DSLR Camera – a Nikon. I used my skills and incorporated the things that I’ve learned in my technical program of Commercial Photography to produce high-quality images for clients and assignments, all while taking pictures of the things I love: People in Action, people around the world, people at their most relaxed moments.

By the time I was halfway through my post-high school Professional Photography Technical School Program, I had ordered a D7000 so I can also have the capabilities of shooting video, as that was one of the courses in the program. I haven’t ordered another camera since. 
However, I finally jumped on the bandwagon with smartphone photography. Once I switched to Samsung for my mobile device, there was no looking back. My travels to South Africa were predominantly on my Samsung S6. 

With that said, it’s been quite a life with photography there every step of the way, even in my relationships; friends, family, and significant others match the word photography to my name as if we joined at the hip. 
Life is funny when it comes full circle, isn’t it?
Now, it’s only right that I give back everything I’ve learned over the past seven years before I completely forget it of course.

So, if you are interested in learning from me, someone who has been through it all in the photography world, won some and lost some, then join me as I release an email course series where I teach you the basics to a great photograph in just five short lessons. 
You want to learn how to use your camera/phone for Instagram-worthy, printable, memorable images, correct?
Then, sign up here or enter your info below!
I can’t wait to see you on the other side!