How My Photography Journey Started: From a Happy Meal Toy to Newborn Photography
Photography has always been a huge part of my life, even though I didn't know it at the time. It all started when I was really young, around grade 4. My dad gave me my very first camera – a point-and-shoot film camera from McDonald's. Yep, you read that right! It was a Happy Meal toy – a tiny, bright orange Concord 110 camera that took these strangely shaped rolls of film. I loved it. The fact that something so small could capture moments in time fascinated me, and I carried it everywhere.
As I grew older, I upgraded to different little film cameras, each one a step up from the last. But it wasn’t until high school that I really started to understand the magic of photography. In grade 10, I took my first photography class, and I was hooked from the start. I took photography in grades 10, 11, and 12, and I was so fortunate to be a part of my yearbook committee in my graduating year. I spent countless hours after school in the dark room, developing my own images. Those were some of the best afternoons of my teenage years – the thrill of seeing a photo slowly come to life in front of me. I always wanted my own darkroom! Maybe one day I will have to build one.
In 2002, I got my first digital camera, and then my very first digital DSLR, a Canon Rebel. That was when everything changed. I remember feeling like I had unlocked a whole new world of possibilities with my photography. I started photographing anything I could – from portraits of friends and coworkers to events. Slowly, I ventured into weddings, headshots, and portraits. Wedding photography, in particular, became something I really loved. I was hired by a wedding team, and I had the chance to shoot about 50 weddings. Weddings were magical. The excitement, the emotion, and the joy of capturing the start of someone’s new chapter were so fulfilling.
However, after having children of my own, things shifted. I found that long wedding days – with shoots that could stretch well past midnight – became harder to manage if not impossible to do when you have a newborn at home. I wanted to spend more time with my own family, so I decided to shift my focus. That’s when I started getting into newborn photography. It was the perfect fit. Working from home meant I could still pursue my passion for photography while being there for my family.
Now, after six years of specializing in newborn photography, I can honestly say that I still love it more than anything. There's something so incredibly special about capturing those first few moments of a newborn’s life. Each session is unique, each baby is different, and every family I work with holds a special place in my heart.
From my first orange McDonald's camera to where I am today, it’s been quite the journey. But through all of it, one thing has remained constant – my passion for photography. I’m so thankful for every step along the way and for every person who has trusted me to capture their precious memories.
Thank you for being a part of my journey. I can’t wait to see where this passion takes me next!
- Elizabeth Lang Photography
YOUR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION WITH ELIZABETH LANG PHOTOGRAPHY