How I Almost Didn’t Become a Family Photographer

When I was very little I wanted to be a photographer, but it took me 30 years to be brave enough to do it. Plain as day, you can see it written down on one of those adorable preschool questionnaires asking what I wanted to be when I grew up, “Corinna wants to be a photographer.” It’s probably no surprise that my favorite elective in high school was a photography class that taught us the basics of the exposure triangle, composition, and lighting (Thank you, Mr. Harrison!). I was totally hooked and did my senior project on film photography and darkroom developing.

Fun fact: I proudly transformed my family’s bathroom into a makeshift darkroom. It wasn’t glamorous, but watching images slowly appear on paper felt like magic and never got old.

Then I graduated from high school and decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical and Chemical Hydrology. How does that even happen? Let me explain…

Growing up in a very rural and beautiful area of Northern California instilled in me a deep appreciation of the natural world. The idea of studying Environmental Science and doing my part in protecting this incredible planet we all get to call home felt like the right thing to do. But mostly, it scared the pants right off me to me to pursue the arts instead of a career path that felt safe and secure. Not to mention, I’m certain it never occurred to the younger me that someone could actually make a living from taking pictures. Photography was a cool and interesting hobby, but something perhaps only a few lucky individuals (mostly wedding photographers) got to do for a living.

After graduating, I worked for a small environmental non-profit for a little while, and then I worked at a law firm in a San Francisco skyscraper for some time too. Nothing felt like a great fit, and my thought process was that if I kept changing jobs, maybe I would land on something that finally felt right. Looking back, I understand that I was refusing to see the obvious. Then, one fateful day, our friends who knew I loved taking pictures purchased a small business and asked if I wanted to be their product photographer. With a resounding yes, I got right to work and Corinna Black Photography was born.

Things shifted when I met my husband and we had our two boys. Suddenly, photography wasn’t just an interest or a creative outlet, it became a lifeline. I had pretty severe Postpartum Depression after having my first child, and taking pictures of him felt like therapy. It was a way to heal the heartbreak that is watching your children transition so quickly through the baby and toddler stages and realizing how unbelievably fleeting their early childhood is. My kids are now 8 and 5, and if it weren’t for pictures, I would not remember what their little baby features and mannerisms looked like. These things are hard as a mom, and taking pictures became my way of holding onto it all.

That’s when I knew this wasn’t just something I loved, it was something I needed to share. Afterall, I’m not unique in my struggle. Us moms are all in this together. Photography, for me, is about helping people feel seen and helping them recognize through meaningful images what they already know is important. It’s about creating space for connection and capturing what’s real and worth remembering. I want you to look at your images years from now and remember not just what your family looked like, but what it felt like to be right there in that season of life.

Above all else, my hope is that your photographs will make you feel all the feels when you look at them many years from now. I hope they help you remember more than just how you looked, but how you connected as a family!

Sometimes I wish the four-year-old version of me could have nudged the eighteen-year-old version and said, “Just go for it.” But the longer path is what allows me to see this work differently now. If you’re looking for a Jacksonville Beach family photographer who focuses on connection, natural light, and honest moments, I would love to document this season for you.