I have been observing several photographers over the last several years, who have made some

amazing progress in their art and their business.

It's really humbling to see someone who was once tentative or nervous about their

work evolve into a photographer who consistently produces good work,

continues to succeed financially,

and who actively gives back to the photographic community.

Valerie Gendarne has made some amazing strides herself in the last few years

that have known her, and it's exciting to see someone who has such a passion for photography do so much with it.

Well, Valerie, welcome to the candid frame.

Thank you for having me. This is really an honor. Yeah, I am, you know, we've been, we've

been aware of each other, you know, and interacting periodically, but it's nice to finally sit down

and talk to you and get to know you a little better. You're pretty diverse in terms of

the work that you do, but one of the things that really kind of piqued my interest, when you wrote

a little while back about quitting photography, and I think a lot of people who love photography

do quit and others people entertain the idea, but you did it

and it really ended up being sort of a transformational moment for you. So I'd like to start

there. What was happening that was making you think that you didn't want to do this anymore

even though you loved it so much? Oh, yes. Well, it actually happened just a few years

ago. I started kind of late. I've only been doing this for 15 years seriously and making

money at it slowly. And like everything else, when you turn your passion and your hobby into a

profession, it becomes a job

pretty quickly. The part that people tend to forget is that it becomes a business before

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