It’s been just over a year since I started my blog, and as I continue sharing my photography, travels, and adventures, I realize I haven’t fully shared my story, the story of how my love for photography began and how it has shaped my life. So today, I want to take a step back and tell you about my journey behind the lens.
If it were at all humanly possible, I think I would have been born holding a camera. Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I would prance around with one of my parents' old film cameras — no film, no batteries — yet I "took photos" of everything I saw. I don't ever feel more comfortable than when I have my camera in my hand, I may be a bit shy and introverted but when I am snapping photos, I feel a confidence I cannot describe.
As I got older, I saved every bit of money I could, from birthdays to chores, and eventually bought my very first camera. A tiny red Sony compact camera. It was love at first sight. I could finally take real photos with my very own camera!
In 2014, my mom accidentally dropped my camera on the open lens, and it broke. I was devastated, but she surprised me with a new Canon compact camera. While I missed my little Sony (which still sits tucked away in a box on top of my cupboard), I fell in love with my new one just as much.
That same year (2014) I had to choose my specialisation in high school’s fine arts program — mixed media, photography, or sculpture. The choice was instant and so so easy: photography (of course!) I had the privilege of learning film photography and experimenting in the darkroom, and I fell in love. Completely. Fully. and whole-heartedly.
At the end of 2015, my dad gifted me my first DSLR—a Canon EOS 100D with an 18-55mm lens. My first real camera! That Christmas gift marked the true beginning of my photography journey, especially since just after getting that camera we went on a fun road trip across South Africa which gave me so many opportunities to use my new friend.
I was then honoured to receive the school’s trophy for best photography in 2016, which encouraged me to share more of my work with the world. With my brother's push, I started my Instagram page, AJ Champz Photography.
https://www.instagram.com/ajchampz.photography/
After high school, I studied advanced wedding management. I have always loved LOVE, weddings, and events (but that’s a story for another day). The following year, I took a digital photography course to truly understand my camera. That decision changed everything. Soon after, I had the privilege of photographing my brother’s wedding — a moment that ignited my passion for capturing people, emotions, and celebrations. This was the start of A Champion Photography, my wedding, event, and lifestyle photography brand.
https://www.instagram.com/achampionphotography/
It has been seven years since that first wedding, and I am still just as in love with photography. Over the years, my gear has grown, too. In 2019, my dad gifted me a beautiful zoom lens, which sparked my love for wildlife photography.
Then, in 2022, I invested in a 50mm fixed-focus lens, which quickly became my all-time favorite for wedding photography.
Recently, I started sorting through years of my old photos. While organizing, I stumbled upon a project from 2014, my first year of visual arts. Our theme was perspective (I think), and looking at those photos after 11 years was a powerful reminder of how much I have grown.
There are moments when I doubt my work, when I question whether my photos are any good. But seeing those early images, compared to where I am now, reassures me. My skill, my eye, my understanding of photography—everything has evolved.
I don’t love those old photos, but I don’t hate them either. They challenged me to see the world differently, to experiment, to capture something unique. And in their grainy date-stamped corners, I see a younger me, just beginning a journey that I never want to end. In the meantime, enjoy some of my past pictures from 2014! 📷
Photography has been, and always will be, a part of who I am. Whether I’m capturing love at a wedding, the wild beauty of nature, or fleeting everyday moments, I know that every photo I take is another step in my journey. And looking back at where I started makes me excited for where I’m going next.
Thank you for stopping by and getting to know me a bit better and about my photography journey! I appreciate you taking the time to read my story, and I hope it inspires you to chase your passions and dreams, whatever they may be. Here’s to capturing more moments, making more memories, and continuing this amazing adventure of mine. Until next time, keep seeing the beauty in the world around you!💕
Stick around for some more adventures!
All photographs are copyrighted to the author
~ AJ Champz