Creating a successful career out of a hobby is what senior Megan Barton has chosen to do with her passion for photography.

“Growing up, I always liked the idea of photography, but it wasn’t until I took Photo I at school that I really learned how to take pictures,” Barton said.

Barton took Photo I her sophomore year and has worked her way up to AP Photo, which she is currently enrolled in.

“Megan has been a student and cadet teacher in my photography classes,” photography teacher Katy Mangrich said. “She’s really creative and has great conceptual ideas.”

Starting last February, Barton began taking senior pictures for students.

“The first senior pictures I took were of my friend’s older sister,” Barton said. “I loved taking her pictures, and I thought this would be a fun thing to continue to do.”

So far, Barton has taken nine students’ senior pictures and charges, on average, $50 an hour to capture and edit the pictures.

“Megan did such a great job with my senior pictures,” senior Brittany Davega said. “She made the whole shoot very comfortable, and we both had fun while doing it.”

Barton reached a more professional level when she took headshots for family friend and author Dan Duffy in January.

“My friend posted senior pictures of her son that Megan took. I thought they were remarkable,” Duffy said. “I needed headshots, and I thought Megan was worth working with.”

Duffy is co-founder of The Half Fund, an organization that gives money to artists to create cancer stories in forms as movies, books and music. All profits go towards different cancer charities. His book, The Half, was the first among these projects.

“Whenever I’ve gotten headshots in the past, it has not always been the most pleasant aftermath,” Duffy said. “Megan was able to almost reach through the lens and bring out in me a fairly accurate representation of who I am. I could not believe the result.”

Barton hopes to pursue a photography career while attending the University of Missouri, in hopes of being admitted into the journalism program.

“Photography has given me so many opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, and I’ve met so many amazing people,” Barton said. “I can’t imagine where I would be if I didn’t take Photo.”

For more information about working with Barton you can contact her facebook page or by emailing [email protected]. .