To start out, let's just say Courtney Broska Photography was like Apple. Started in a garage (a bedroom in this case), with a large dream, and by a young entrepreneur wanting to change lives for the better. From a young age, as long as I can remember honestly, I've always wanted to be a photographer and so much so that I presented about it, yes a full presentation, to my eighth grade English class as everyone else presented on becoming a neurosurgeon or some occupation that made crazy a$$ money, but also puts you into large debt which I am not interested in. 

So, that summer after eighth grade in August of 2019, I created an account on Instagram for fun and to showcase my love for photography to my friends. The grind didn't stop, however. I was posting or creating content nearly every day as my passion grew stronger as I thought "maybe I could actually get somewhere with this"... and then the pandemic hit in March of 2020 (this statement is fully self-explanatory). I was trying to think of ways to stay safe, but still have fun, during isolation and photography was just that. My mom and I would drive around the city or surrounding areas of Buffalo, me in the passenger seat of course, as I took pictures of the phenomenal city skylines and gems of the "City of Good Neighbors". I remember telling myself "I'll never be a portrait photographer, I only want to work by myself"... and was I WRONG. 

During this time, that "for fun" mentality turned into a "wow, people with other photography accounts are noticing me", then into "oh wait now I'm the one being featured", and finally to, "wait, I can actually make a career off of this". I booked my first paid portrait session, a newborn/sibling session in July of 2020 (masked of course) and started taking on more and more portrait sessions into that Fall through Winter. In February of 2021, that Winter, I had my first wedding which then made me realize how much fun it was to be involved in someone's story and special day. Fast forward to July 30, 2021, nearly two years after creating CBP, I registered my business officially at the age of sixteen and 'Courtney Broska Photography' became officially, official.

Now after graduating high school in June 2023, I am a full-time photographer living my dream career. Did I expect myself to get this far, this soon? No. Did I think I would be where I am in my teens instead of when I'm in my twenties or thirties? Yes. But it proves that if you put your mind and heart to something, the possibilities are endless. 

I wouldn't have done it any other way.

The story behind courtney broska photography