Adria Peaden Photographer » Adria is a photographer starting out in Panama City, FL. Read about her adventure starting a new business.

Adria Peaden Photography

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.