My father is a photographer, and from a very young age I helped him on shoots.  I'm not sure that I am a photographer because of him, but it certainly helped to have that kind of an influence around.  I thought for a long time that I wanted to go into advertising, or directing.  When it came time to decide what I was going to be when I grew up, I applied to University programs for both film and photography.  I was accepted for both programs, but when I really thought about it, I decided that I didn't want to be doing group work for the rest of my life.  I think I would have done well in the film industry, but I really appreciate that as a photographer, I get to work on executing my own visions.