The Journey Begins

This is the start of my blog, The Patient Photographer.

I have been a photographer since 1985. Let me rephrase, I have been in business since 1985. I am really an entrepreneur who just happens to take photos. I intend to cover many topics here over the next few years.

How I started:
I come from a good southern family. We never had a lot but we always had enough to get by. We worked for what we got and we appreciated it more for that reason I suppose. I went to college and worked for a local printer as a 3rd shift janitor. Tried playing basketball my freshman year but after numerous splinters in my butt, decided I was not gonna be in the NBA. Got married the Sophomore year (!!!!!!) and really had to work but what did I know? I was young and the world was mine for the taking. I was making $1.91/hour at my job(had more money than I knew what to do with!) You see money went a lot farther then. I graduated in 1972 with my degree in Accounting(didn't really like accounting but EVERYONE said that's where the jobs are!)

So, I stayed with the printing company and, since I had my degree, was offered a position as an assistant manager. The BIG "A" the girls called me. Lost the first wife there(my fault) stayed single a year and a half and found wife #2 there. (some advice) Don't find your 2nd wife where you found your first wife. Good advice for you beginners. Also, if they were both born on the same day, HEAD FOR THE HILLS!!!!

OK so how did I get into photography??

Well, like so many things in my life, I just kinda stumbled into it. I had taken some pics in high school as the Co-Editor of the yearbook. And then, I started helping out in the photo department of the printing company. One momentous day someone asked me to take pictures of a family reunion, then a wedding, and I was a regular photographer at employee functions. Ohhhh Lord, If I only knew!

In the meantime, Life was great! I became Department Manager in charge of a big budget, layoffs and recalls, employee counseling & training not to mention trying to keep some very new experimental typesetting equipment running. But, Life was good.

Well, the GOOD LIFE can't last forever so it didn't. I just don't remember exactly when it stopped. But, I was unhappy and although I was making good money for the time, it wasn't enough. So, I started looking around. One MOMENTOUS DAY, I found a newspaper ad selling the 1 HOUR Photo Lab. WOW!! I was hooked.

About this time, I was just getting ready to marry wife #2. It was a new relationship. I was Mr. Kool and many women desired me. LOL LOL LOL!!!
Anyway, she built me up into thinking I could do anything (and BTW I CAN!) so I quit my job COLD TURKEY and opened the first 1 HOUR lab in town.

So you see I had no choice but to become a photographer.

First installment: THE PATIENT PHOTOGRAPHER