It was Saturday afternoon when he brought in the mail. Bills, advertisements, and a magazine. Since when did you start getting magazines from England, he asked. Then I nearly clawed him to get the magazine away from him. It had arrived. I nervously thumbed through the glossy pages and then I found the feature. And OH MY GOD I almost cried there, in our dining room. Okay, so I cried. But it was just a little cry. Like a boy cry. A lip quiver and a single tear. Because I was trying to be cool.

A few months ago, the uber fab Crash Taylor interviewed me. Well, he's also a contributor to Professional Photographer Magazine UK. I don't know all the inner-workings but somehow that online interview turned into something more. More questions, specifically dealing with branding and whether American techniques can work abroad for photographers. On Saturday, I received the print copy…

I sat on the couch and I read the article. Touched the pages. I turned to JD and told him I can't believe I get to do this. THIS! Take pictures! Be a photographer! And in that moment JD reminded me to never forget a few things: From where I've come, we're totally and completely underserving, and Polo needed a bath. He then placed the dog in my lap and the magazine flipped closed.