Some of you might not know this but I Homeschool my children. Last week I was teaching my kids a lesson about how no matter what it is that we think we want to do, God’s plan will always prevail. And this can be with anything in life. We might think one way is the best way to go, but God could have other plans. How do you know when it is God’s plan, you might ask? How do you know when he gives those little nudges and whispers?

Well, I shared a little story that helped put some things into perspective for my children when they asked this and I will share it with you all. After all, it helps tell how I got into this Photography business.

In college I thought that in order to help people, I needed to go into the medical field. See, all I dreamt of doing when I was younger was healing or helping others so naturally I thought of medicine. However, God knew how he would change my heart in the future.

But young India was determined. I entered the Physical Therapy department at our local college and when I say so many things intervened with that plan, I mean it. Once that was a fail, I went into the Nursing Program. I tried for an RN but that failed. I settled for the next best thing, and that failed to. I even tried my hands at CNA work, had quit my steady job to chase after this dream only to quit CNA work after a few months because it absolutely was not meant for me. (My heart was way to big and sensitive for that line of work.)

And then I eventually chose to settle. I ended up earning a degree in Medical Information Technology because I had all of the credits for it. That is what I graduated with. But when I went out into the “Real World” I couldn’t find a job anywhere. I bombed interview after interview because I found out I am not good with interviews and my nerves never went away even after I prayed. I don’t like thinking that God purposely let my anxiety get in the way of those jobs but I can say now that I am glad that he did.

All of those years of hard work and yet I couldn’t find anything. I started to wonder then, God what is it that you want me to do? What am I meant to do in life? Shortly after I asked that, my husband surprised me with a late graduation present that was my very first point and shoot Canon Camera. (It was also the camera that captured out wedding so it was extra special). He told me he believed in my love for photography and wanted me to persuade it. (Thank you Wes for always believing in me and my passions. He is the biggest supporter you guys!)

Even though I continued to try and find a job with the degree I earned and then shortly settled into a job at Blackboard (which didn’t use any of my degree ), I would use my free time to take photos on the side. My job however hindered my growth and so it wasn’t until I had my son that my whole world changed.

I no longer had the desire to work for someone else or wanted to leave my child, so during my maternity leave and those long late nights of breastfeeding, I used that time to look up videos on how to edit and use my camera properly (Yes I was not shooting in Manual Mode and I also was editing with PicMonkey at the time, anyone know what that is? ) . At this time my husband was able to find the job that he currently has and with some budget cutting, I was beyond blessed to stay home with my son and did not have to return to work.

It was hard. But it was worth it being home with my son. Kambryn made the best little model and so I started practicing on him and taught myself how to edit properly. In 2016 I finally took off with photographing others. It wasn’t easy (and I had many epic fails like blown out images that were too bright to do anything with, *Insert the emoji gritting it’s teeth) but I was determined, much like I was in college, to figure things out. But this time friends….. Photography felt right.

All through out my journey with college, Photography was something I always did. It was something I looked into Minoring into in college. It was my passion but I ignored that passion and was trying to chase after what I thought would be something that would let me help others. But God saw the good I could do with my passion!

You also might be wondering, how in the world can you help people with photography? Well my pastor said it well this past Sunday. He was talking about focus and how if we put God in the center of everything, we can make him a part of every single aspect of our lives. And so, I had put God at the center of my photography business from the start.

Through this business, I have been able to have long discussions with people about Jesus. I am able to show the love and kindness and compassion of Jesus by my actions through the people God sends to me. I have been able to listen to the Holy Spirit nudges to gift someone a free session because God told me to. With those acts of generosity, I am able to help people to know that God is there for them and that he loves them.

I started my own nonprofit where I gift sessions to those in need, those walking through a dark season, or even those overcoming a dark season. Because of God. To glorify HIM. Because these ideas are not mine friends and I do not want to take credit. They’re all Him and it’s because I have Him as my focus of my business that he gets to shine through it and work through it.

Who knew Photography could be so impactful in the kingdom of God. Ive seen God do amazing things within this business ever since I finally listened to him in 2015. And here is where I am trying to get to, He can do that with anything! He gives us the desires of our hearts. He gives us our passions in life. What is that for you?

What is he nudging you to do? What has he gifted you with? How can you place him in the center of that and use it for his glory? Don’t be like young India and think you have it all figured out on your own. Listen to Him and then chase after those desires. No matter what it is, you can be impactful when you put God in the middle!

How God turned me away from my college degree and pointed me towards Photography for his Glory.

Photos that make you Feel Something