For many, photography is simply an enjoyable pastime. For AP Language teacher Allison Finn, however, this hobby has been turned into a profession. “I just love it, that’s all; I love to play with perspective,” says Ms. Finn. She has been working freelance for the past three years and takes mostly photographs of couples during wedding ceremonies and the celebrations that follow thereafter.

“The best part about this is that I can work when I want and have off when I want,” says Ms. Finn. Even with an already hectic schedule, juggling her many jobs as firefighter, full-time teacher and personal trainer, she manages her time to be a freelance photographer. “I don’t fill my schedule completely, because then I would never have time to rest,” says Ms. Finn. “It is something I love to do, and if I overdo it, then I won’t love it anymore,” she adds.

Passion for photography first stemmed taking a class in pictures and darkroom techniques at a community center in 7th grade. Intrigued at first by the contact sheets, Ms. Finn aspired to learn how to make such a sheet with tiny images. “It turns out that’s the easiest part, but I still love it,” says Ms. Finn. Keeping the interest alive in high school, she took photo I, photo II and an elective class in photojournalism.

Ms. Finn began working professionally in college. Starting as a fashion photographer in Tyson’s Corner, Ms. Finn worked with aspiring actors and actresses. However, after awhile Ms. Finn decided to leave this sort of photography. “I did not own any of my work. I had no rights to my own photographs,” she says. Soon after, Ms. Finn enthused herself in taking bridal and wedding portraits.

“I love taking pictures of beautiful people. But don’t take that the wrong way; beautiful people come in all shapes and sizes and ages and colors,” says Ms. Finn. “They are natural and the pictures always turn out right.”

Says Ms. Finn, “I love, as [Eudora] Welty says, to ‘stop a moment in time.’ That’s really what wedding photography is, you know – it’s stopping a moment from running away so that the married couple can hold onto it forever and access it any time they want.”