Gainesville's Next Top Budget Photographer

[ View the story "Hurricane Irma's Destruction in Pictures" on Storify ]

Journalists need photos. Why? It may sound cheesy, but a picture is worth a thousand words. You can describe a scene in so much detail, but it will never be as powerful as the picture. Hurricane Irma is a great example of this. Many news stations described what was happening in the Carribean and around Florida, but it doesn't always mean much to others not directly hit. However, looking at pictures like this really show the devastation. I took these at my home in Cocoa Beach (because I didn't stay in Gainesville). After I posted these of Facebook, people freaked out. What they thought about the Hurricane was changed, not through words, but pictures. Here is an article that I really really love is called " Importance of Photography in Storytelling and Building a Brand ." The author, Michael Walton, talks about how at his PR firm MHW uses photography to show who they are and really tell their story. 

This isn't a big deal for photographers in big cities like Miami or Orlando. They have lots of options when it comes to locations for their shoots. However, in Gainesville, photographers have to get creative. Here are some locations I have scouted in the past that make a wonderful background for your photos. The Swamp (a.k.a Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) This is honestly one of my favorite places to shoot and not just because I'm there every Saturday. The Swamp has bright Orange walls to make your photos pop. It also has lots of different lighting options depending on what time you go and where you take your photos. Play around by shooting the stadium in different places, it's interesting to see the different shots you get. Plaza of the Americas The Plaza of the Americas has always been such a beautiful background for photos. Now, with the recent renovations, it has more sidewalks and grass areas to shoot on. With Library West in the background, this is a per

One of the things I love about the movie Ratatouille is the message, "everyone can cook." Now if we change the word cook to take photos, then you would get my philosophy on life. I haven't been taking photos very long, just a few years. I didn't start out great and the pictures I took were sub par. It angered me to see photographers on Instagram post their gorgeous pictures and brag in the caption about how it was a #nofilter shot. It wasn't until I took this picture that I realized something very important. Everyone can take professional photos. We walk around with a professional high-quality camera in our pockets. Most smartphones can take photos just as good as any DSLR could . Now, I bet you are wondering how. You take photos on your iPhone all the time and they look bad. Well, that's why I started this blog. I want other students to know they don't' have to spend thousands of dollars on equipment and a nice camera to get a great shot.