My love for photography started young.

When I was just three years old, my parents would find me wandering around with a camera in hand, capturing images of everything I saw. I took photos of my little sister, the television as it played my favorite cartoons, and even my own tiny feet! I would even meticulously arrange little strings on the floor and take pictures of those by themselves. While the compositions were far from perfect, each picture I took was an expression of curiosity flowing through my tiny mind.

When I was six, my parents bought me my very first camera.

And while it wasn't a "real" camera (it was a VTech Kidizoom camera), I was glued to that thing. I'd carry it all around the house, constantly taking pictures of everyone and everything. The bad quality of the images didn't bother me--I was just happy to finally have a camera of my own.

When I was twelve, I learned how to use a DSLR.

My dad owned a red Nikon camera that he mainly used for capturing family events and such as prom photos, performances, etc. That camera was the first DSLR I ever learned how to operate. When I expressed my growing interest in photography, he encouraged me to borrow his camera. From that moment, I began taking it everywhere, eager to capture anything that caught my eye. On ordinary days at home, I would set up little "photoshoots," asking my siblings to pose while I practiced taking portraits. And anytime I wasn't using the camera, I used my phone to capture beautiful things I didn't want to forget. So much so, that my storage always filled up so fast!

Freshman year of high school, I began taking photography classes.

This experience fueled my growing passion, giving me the perfect space to refine my skills, experiment with different techniques, and push my creativity even further. I took two photography classes in my high school career, and that is something I'll never regret.

Fast forwarding to now.

My love for photography grows every day. Every time I get to talk about my plans for the future of my business, I feel so full of excitement, and I'm so happy with how far I've come! "Moments by Alena" is the result of years of passion, dedication, and a deep love for capturing special moments.