My name is Adria Peaden and I currently live in the Panama City, FL area. The Gulf of Mexico offers a wonderful backdrop for my pictures and it is a blessing to get to photograph loving people in this place.
You might be surprised to learn that photography was not at all on my radar of "What I want to do when I grow up." In high school my father told me I could be a famous woman Mathematician. Sure I was great at math but who wants to do word problem's all day? The first two years in college were spent exploring everything but what my father thought I should do and my family heritage, Computer Science. I was a Chemist one semester, Bio-medical Engineer the next. Finally, I wound up in Computer Science. It was a fluke really, but I took a programming class and decided that it really was a natural talent to solve complex word problems.
As a senior, I became a teaching assistant and got to teach freshmen and sophomores' computer applications. One more step in my evolution, I liked teaching. After getting married, I was a house wife for two years and thought I was content but I had the itch to get moving into something. A master's was the next option. After two years, I got my Master's in Software Engineering.
Walking the stage to get my diploma was I am sure quite a sight. My daughter had been baking for eight months at that point and I looked like an old man with a pot belly in a big black robe. Graduation is not flattering for very pregnant women. Gillian was born and not 6 weeks later I started teaching at a Community College. Teaching is amazing and I love the flexibility and interaction with people. I don't think I could sit behind a desk all day coding. I love coding but, people are more interesting. But wait...one more twist in the road. With baby #2 on the way, I decided that a stay at home mommy was best for me. Now I await my little boy Trey and with more time at home I have plenty of time to devote to my growing photography business.
Photography was something I fell into because of my husband. He would always gloat to others about the pictures I took of Gillian. Me being the person I am thought Gillian was making the pictures good not me. Well, he prodded enough telling me that I had talent, believing him; I bought a nice DSLR camera. That was the spark I needed.
I started taking family portraits of friends and pictures at weddings for those who couldn't afford a photographer just so I could practice. Every night after Gillian goes to bed you can probably find me on the computer either editing pictures or researching how to get better. This is it. I have found my passion and finally I know I am in the right spot. My journey was long and winding but what a difference being in the right spot has made.
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