Well, I am not going to lie. I did not want to start blogging. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing. I absolutely do. But time has been the ultimate factor, like it is for so many of us. But I decided to go all in and I am absolutely glad I did! This first little blog is going to explain my journey to becoming a Topeka wedding photographer.

My Place

I realized blogging gave me a place for a voice. A place to be corny and corky, a place to highlight my couples, my families, and my senior sessions, and a place to tell a fun or interesting story. This is a place to talk about Taylor Swift, (yes I am a Swiftie and proud of it.) So here I am, writing my very first blog post about my photography journey about how I became a Topeka wedding photographer.

This is meant to just be an introduction. You can find more information here.

A Little About Me

Hi! I am Stacey.

I am a mother of two wonderful kiddos.  My oldest is getting her teaching degree and attending college.  She is a sweet and kind soul.  She has been known to babysit nine (yes NINE) kids at the same time, at least one or more of those kiddos was in diapers.  I am not sure I could have done that!

My youngest plays baseball and football.  He is so charismatic.  Everyone is attracted to his outgoing personality.  He makes friends wherever he goes.  And he loves working with children.  When we work a basketball tournament or go to a family event, the kids attack him… quite literally.

I am married to my beau of 24 years.  He is a jokester, a ham, and a funny guy.  This is where my son gets his sparkling personality from.  I just know it.

Unfortunately, I am a caffeine addict, (which works well with being a Topeka wedding photographer)!  I love coffee, sugar free Red Bull, you name it, it is a problem.  I also have a special place in my heart for doggies.  I believe dogs (and cats) are the bridges between heaven and earth.  I am an enneagram 3, which means I am a type A creative soul.  There aren’t a ton of these types of artists and I consider myself lucky. (If you are inclined, here is a link for the enneagram test!

My Photography Journey

My photography journey started when I was a teenager. I remember always having a point and shoot camera in my hand.

One random day in my 20’s, an unnamed friend, asked me to come to a local gasoline station to meet her. She had a surprise for me. (I don’t want to date myself, but these were before the days of cellular phones, instant messages or DM’s). I went as instructed, camera in hand. There was no preconceived notions in my mind as to what was about to happen. But, I knew I had to be ready. As I exited the car with my camera, I could not believe what was before my eyes. In fact, I absolutely did not recognize her at all. My unnamed friend emerged before my eyes with not a single hair on her head. She later mentioned she had called someone out on a dare and got paid big bucks for shaving her head.

College and Beyond

The camera stayed with me through my college years. Then it stayed with me while I dated my hubbie and got married. So many pictures of our friends, our family, and us. The camera came on our honeymoon. It didn’t matter if it was bad or good, sad or happy, I wanted to document it. Then came my babies who gave me constant models (and were adorable). So I began using fleece blankets for my backdrops. I would hang easter eggs from the ceiling, and they would fall right in front of the backdrop. Why I did this? I couldn’t tell you. I remember putting both of my kids in a large holiday wrapped box and threw a bow on top of their heads. Why? I couldn’t tell you. The amount of photoshoots I did with my kiddos, it is a bit embarrassing!

Leveling up to the Canon XSi

But then I got a Canon XSi digital camera and wow, my world opened up. I began shooting in manual mode, which took me years to learn. It would not be shocking for me to to get frustrated, put down the camera and walk away, only to return the next day. I found a really helpful photography group, full of other like minded photographers, wanting to learn and helping each other. Things really took off from there. The camera called to me. I dreamt about it at night. And eventually, I started Freckles and Frogs Photography business.

I had so much fun putting this business together but really, I should have known better. I was a mom of two little kids working a full time job trying to run a side hustle. It was impossible to keep it all going. I felt like I was juggling 10 balls and soon one of those balls was going to drop. I had a blast, but it didn’t last more than a year before I closed it down.

When I could, I started taking pictures for family and friends to keep up my skills. In 2013, I proudly finished my first 365 project and remained in contact with photographers from around the country. In those years, I learned and learned and learned. There were many years that I wanted so much… to do more. I wanted to have a business and I told myself I would… one day.

The Beginning of a Business – Becoming a Topeka Wedding Photographer

After my daughter left for college, I knew it was time. Stacey B Photography was born.  But I wasn’t a Topeka wedding photographer right off the bat.  Oh no… I surely wasn’t.  I was scared to death of weddings and vowed never to do one.

It was two years ago now, when I got the call from an old friend named Jim, asking me to photograph his daughter’s wedding. When I got the message, I was with my husband, his brother and my sister-in-law, who had been a wedding photographer in the distant past.  At first, I laughed out loud. I told the crew and we all laughed.  But as the evening went on, my sister-in-law started changing my mind… By the middle of the following day, I had a plan and was ready to take this on. And not just this wedding, I was full on ready for my journey as a Topeka wedding photographer.

Sometimes, God puts things in your heart and before you know it, you are on the ride of your life, and there is no getting off the train. From that day forward, I fell in love with photographing love, and that is how I became a wedding photographer.