Where it all Started

Well, there could be a strong case made that I started when I was little carrying around a disposable camera when I was on vacations. BUT, I think I will start my story a little later in life. Although I have enjoyed photography as a hobby, I jumped into truly learning photography in college, at the lovely University of Colorado in Boulder. I was not someone who knew what they wanted to do going into college. I had no idea. I figured I would just figure it out when I got there. The only thing that I did know my whole entire life is that I wanted to own my own business. What? I did not know. I came up with a bunch of different ideas over the years. I wanted to own a cupcake shop with unique flavors of cupcakes (I even had a journal with different flavor ideas), one year I fell in love with frozen yogurt and wanted to own a frozen yogurt shop, then I wanted to open up a ceramics shop, like the ones where you get to pick out a bisque piece and paint it, and then they fire it for you. I had a lot of different ideas, I loved the idea of working for myself.

So, I am in college, and it came time to pick a major. You would think that this would be the time that I told everyone that I found my calling and it was photography. But no. I still had no idea. I was taking Italian as a language class at the time, and I absolutely loved it. I remember talking to my cousin about what I should do because I had no idea still, but that I loved Italian. He said, “Well, major in that!” So, I did! I officially registered Italian as one of my majors, and I am so happy I did, I love the language, I love the culture, I am part Italian (my maiden name is Coppolecchia), it was a great fit, I just was not sure what I wanted to do with it after college. I continued to brainstorm and go through the options trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

At the time I worked for my mom at her pet grooming store (Paws and Claws Pet Grooming in Longmont, Colorado if you live in the area and are looking for the most amazing pet groomer in the world! I have to give a little shout out!) and I would have to drive past this beautiful lake on my way to and from work. I always wanted to pull over and take a photo of it. It was really inspiring to me. So, one day driving by, something clicked inside of me, I was inspired, and I was like this is what I want to do, I want to do something creative, and I want to do photography. So, I did! I signed up for Photography as my second major. I remember feeling like “this is where I am supposed to be,” when I stood outside the art building on campus.

Ok so now you are really thinking, “and the rest is history, here you are today!”

Nope!

What did happen was an amazing job as a dental assistant fell into my lap after getting a cleaning. I got a cleaning and afterwards the girl at the front asked me if I was looking for a job. As a matter of fact, I was looking for a job! I was about to graduate, so they graciously set up a plan for days that I could come in and then after I was officially done with school, I would start working full time. It was such an amazing experience, I worked with amazing people, had a wonderful boss, and learned so much, it was incredible.

Then, my hubby (who was still my boyfriend at the time) joined the Navy! He went to boot camp, and then training, and then off on deployment. Soon after he got back from deployment, he proposed!! Two months later we were hitched, after having a beautiful mountain top wedding that was just the perfect day. My new hubby was stationed in San Diego (it is all coming together now, huh?), so I came out here (with our two kitty cats!) to be with him!

Well, not long before I got married, one of my best friends asked me if I would do senior portraits for her co-worker. I was reluctant because I hadn’t worked with clients before and I had no idea what I was doing in that aspect. I eventually said yes, and oh my gosh, I loved it. It was so much fun. We took photos all over my little town of Lyons, and I loved how the photos turned out.

Now, is when I can say “the rest is history!” I decided that I was going to open my own photography business. Not long after I made my Facebook business page (originally with the name Photography on Fleek, I liked how it sounded, and “on fleek” was a cool saying at the time, don’t judge). This was all in 2015. I eventually moved out to San Diego awhile after the wedding, did a couple photoshoots in Colorado, and then started promoting myself out here! GCP kept growing and now here we are today!

I am so excited and thankful, and so blessed to be where I am today and am so happy doing what I love. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love meeting clients, I love being able to be creative, I love owning my own business, I just love it.

I know that was a long post, thank you guys for dropping in and reading about how I got started doing something that I love doing. (and I hope it was inspiring to anyone who did not know or does not know what they want to do with their lives, even though it seems like it is about the time that you should know.)

Alrighty, I will talk to you all soon!!

<3, Geena