Getting Started...

The beginning of my blog, first post, first time jitters, all that... Hmm... How do I start?

Well, perhaps some things about me, and why I've decided to do this.

I want to use this blog to illustrate my life as a father and photographer. What its like for me trying to break into the field of photography, while managing to support a family. How great it can be, and how difficult. Good times, bad, so on.

So..............

I'm 29. I'm married.(sort of, without the legal formalities, should be getting that taken care of soon) My "wife" is marginally older than me. We met at, and both graduated from the University of Kentucky, her with a BA in Art Studio/Photography, me with a BFA in Art Studio/Photography. I have a seven year old step-daughter, "The Munchkin". We also have a 4 month old son, "Weston" (I'm sure any fellow photogs out there could guess where his mother and I got that from.) His arrival is probably the deciding factor in me doing this blog. "The Wife" and I are running our photography business, Rideout Photography. www.rideoutphoto.com To be honest, sometimes we're hanging on by the skin of our teeth. We each work "regular" day jobs, entirely because, having children, we need steady and dependable income. However, we really think that our business suffers for this. BUT, our kids are always housed, clothed, and fed. For that matter, we are too. So why did we spend all those years in college? and spend those tens of thousands of dollars? Because we have a dream, for our future, to be doing what we truly love. PHOTOGRAPHING.

More reasons I'm writing this blog:

One would have to be, my disorganization. Really, thank goodness for "The Wife", because I'm a mess. She really does hold it together, and me too. But wouldn't it all run more smoothly if we were BOTH like that? Of course it would. So, maybe I can use this blog as a scheduling tool. Make a routine of it, among other things, and it will help me get back some of that organization and discipline I had in college, where I worked full-time, and then some, while carrying a full course load. OR, it could just become another one of my endless distractions, only time will tell I suppose.

More reasons:

I know I lost you a long time ago, but... THE REAL REASONS I'M DOING THIS: (drum roll please)

Because man, my kids, are awesome. In the truest, and most literal sense of the word. They blow me away, truly.

So you see, this is my life, a Dad's life, THROUGH THE LENS.