From Instant Snaps to the Darkroom

✨ Some of the mini photos I have collected over the years in my first album ✨

When I was 14, my Uncle Ken gave me my first camera — one of those mini Instax Polaroids, a sleek hot pink. I instantly (pun intended) fell in love with this thing; I took a billion pictures of our dog, and I brought that thing everywhere with me. It was always a hit with friends; everyone always wanted their own print.

For a long time, though, I didn't think of myself as a photographer. I felt like anyone could touch a camera. What was I doing that was special or different? To me, I was just documenting my life, taking snapshots of friends and small, mundane moments. It was a fun hobby, nothing more.

The Unexpected Click of Analog

Everything changed during my time at the University of Hartford. I took an analog photography class and fell in love all over again, but this time, it was with the darkroom.

It’s funny because science never really clicked for me; I actually celebrated getting a C on my biology midterm in high school. But the darkroom? That space of chemicals, timers, and red safety lights actually made sense. It was a level of control and intentionality I had never experienced with a camera before. I had the incredible opportunity to learn how to work in both a color and a black & white darkroom, both of which I loved. I always found the space soothing and easy to focus in.

Learning how to shoot with a Pentax K1000 — a classic manual 35mm camera — sealed the deal. Every element, from loading the film to setting the aperture and shutter speed, required me to slow down and think. Which is something I can always use more of.

Always Mesmerized, Always Learning

Multiple cameras and countless rolls of film later, I'm still just as mesmerized. My journey has taken me from instant, plastic cameras to heavy, manual ones, and from quick digital snaps to the patient, rewarding work of developing film (although these days, I go to Camera Bar in Hartford to get my film processed & developed. I will always miss the darkroom...)

Now, I understand that the "special and different" thing I bring to photography isn't some secret technical skill — it’s the unique perspective I’ve gained from learning to see the world first as a teenager with an instant camera, and then as a meticulous printer in the darkroom. Whether you consider yourself a serious photographer or not, your work is your unique view of the world, and that is what makes your photography special.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I can't wait to share what I'm learning next.

Katie