Yep, I'm turning 30 tomorrow.
I know I do not typically write personal content here, but my photography life and personal life are very much woven together. Maybe it is not such a bad thing to give whoever is reading this a glimpse of this side of me too.
It is September 10, 2025. I am 29, I turn 30 tomorrow, and it is wild to think about how much has changed in the last 10 years.
I remember being 19 and thinking, “Omg it is my last day of being a teenager” and absolutely freaking out because I had no idea what the rest of my life would look like or where I would be 10 years into the future. At the time I was in college, studying fire science and thinking I would work in the fire service for my sole career.
It was before my quarter life crisis, before realizing I wanted to do more with my life, before ever picking up a professional camera or building any kind of business.
At 19, I was a pizza delivery driver at a local shop that stayed open late into the night. I met a lot of interesting people and learned more about customer service than I realized at the time, just from chatting with customers at their doors.
Fast forward to now and life looks so different. I have a photography business that I love, a fiancée who I am moving into a new home with in just a few weeks, and a cat I would do anything for. I have a niece and nephew who mean the world to me. Life is not always easy, but it is pretty great.
So to the 19 year old Andrew who was not sure what the next decade would bring: be open minded and optimistic. Your 20s turn out in an incredible way. And just like that, your 30s will too.
Is it golden hour yet?
Andrew
