I always loved movie star images and my dad is a huge camera buff. I didn't actually consider 'getting into photography' until after my daughter was born.  I was unhappy with the shots I was getting from a point and shoot. So, for an anniversary present, my husband got me a little Pentax ZX-M and a couple of zoom lenses. I wanted a camera that I could completely control and this one had no bells or whistles at all.  I took it everywhere and would give my friends the pictures of their children that I took. Gradually, they asked for enlargements and then if I would take birthday portraits, or holiday card pictures...  I started thinking that maybe I could have a small business doing child photography. This was in 1999.