For me, photos have always been a tangible way to preserve my favorite memories. It makes me happy to hold a small, shiny image and be transported back in time. In the same way that a photo of the sun escaping beneath the ocean might bring back the feeling of the wind rustling through my hair and on my skin, the aroma of sea salt wafting from crashing waves makes me happy. Ever since I was young, I have gone out of my way to get the perfect snapshot and find joy in capturing the true essence of a family member. Capturing people and life makes me happy, and photography will always be my favorite hobby and strongest passion. Throughout high school, I continued to love photography. I taught myself the ropes of Photoshop down to the smallest detail and became editor-in-chief of the directory. However, I also developed an interest in the business world. My parents always had a philosophy of doing something you love and you will never work a day in your life. So with this in mind, I decided to combine my two interests and pursue a career as a photography business owner. Ideally, I would like to specialize in vintage, outdoor, natural light senior photography. The problem, however, is that the photography industry is going through drastic changes. People capture life's moments with their own digital cameras and smartphones. Free editing websites and apps are becoming incredibly popular. At the same time, some with no experience in photography are trying their hand at the photography business part-time (Swanson). Competition in the photography industry is fierce. So, in order to attract and retain customers, a senior photographer must be very competent, clearly perceptible and creative. While photographers are not middle of paper, they lack the people and marketing skills to attract attention and are not afraid to be creative. Overall, successful photographers with a large clientele are knowledgeable, eye-catching, and fearless. Works Cited Bennett, Ann. “Successful senior photography: marketing to seniors. » MCP shares. MCP Actions, 2006. Internet. February 9, 2014.Conroy, Billy. Personal interview. February 19, 2014. Curtis, Jonathan. How to Start and Run a Money-Making Photography Business. np: Regent, 2013. Print. Duke, Kristen. “How to Start a Photography Business.” Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke. np, 2014. Internet. February 2, 2014.Media Novak. Website Development and Design Media Novak, 2014. Web. January 28, 2014. Swanson, Jamie. “Will your photography business survive 2014? 13 predictions for the new year. The modern Tog. np, December 31, 2013. Web. February 8 2014.