Back in the 90’s, when I first opened Photoshop, I had no idea that it would be the core of my career almost 30 years later. I didn’t have any kids yet. Heck I hadn’t even met my wife at that time. Yet somehow today – married for over 20 years and my oldest son in college – that same program I first opened in my dingy old one-bedroom apartment, now weaves it’s way in to my every day work (and play). Pretty cool huh?
So I also recorded a quick video to tell you how I first got started in Photoshop. You can watch it below:
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
It’s great to know how you began it all and progressed through the years.
I had a boxy green Jeep Cherokee, too!
Hi Matt, Great story Loved hearing your background. I think like many people, learning how to say “Yes, I can” or yes to opportunities that scare us are the best way to learn and grow and discover our passion. And with all of the times we said yes, little pieces fall into place like a puzzle to create our lives. thanks for sharing
Thanks Matt! That was just total fun for me. No one can ask more than to have a career where you get paid to do what you love, and you have achieved just that. All the best for your continued success. Stay safe!
I enjoyed your speil,Matt, especially about how you made grass around the golfball. So cool. I recently experimented with that grass brush, and wow, I had grass sideways, upside down and everywhere where it didn’t belong..just loved reminiscing so thanks for memory lane!
My daughter bought my 1st PS CD when she was in college in the late 90’s went on to CS4 etc.. Bought books and more books and after a lot of practice and learning and relearning different technics. Have spent hours restoring photos and tweaking pictures. Like others I followed you at NAPP. My Wacom pad is so old they don’t have updates. Coming up on 74 years myself and have enjoyed the learning curve. Bought your Photoshop course and it is a good refresher.
Interesante historia. Creo que es bueno conocer la historia de una persona y en forma tan simple, y compartirla.
Los años pasan los recuerdos quedan.
Saludos
Chile- SudAmerica
Hi Matt!
Thanks for the back story, have heard some of it before but WOW 30yrs into PS! Thanks for the fantastic teachings you produce & you’re my ‘go to’ techy for all PS, LR On1 as I get too confused with other tutors who tend to rush their programs. I’m still a bit shy over PS though, so think will have to start all over again.
I recommend you to all I meet at camera groups. Keep doing what you’re doing.
My husband had just bought me Photoshop CS when we went to visit a friend and I noticed a torn and water spotted photo of her father in her hallway. I asked her about it and she explained that when she was little, her parents got into an argument and her father left. Her mom took his World War II service photo and tore it into at least 4 pieces and cried over it. Therefore it was water spotted. I mentioned I had this new Photoshop Program and I would love to copy her photo and try to restore it. I was amazed at what the program could do! I did have trouble with one of his eyes which was on 2 or 3 of the pieces, but to my friend, it was “great”. She cried with joy and I knew I wanted to know more. Photo restoration is my passion. Thank you for all the things I’ve learned from you!
Scott, I have enjoyed your style of teaching since the Kelby years. Like others I had wondered were you went. I’m glad to have found you and your skill set again.
Hi Matt: I first met you as the co-host with Scott Kelby, I love the combination. I was very disappointed when I purches me next yearly subscription I could not find your name or any course content…hum! There was the rummor mill, I not one that really pays too much attention …so I continued to watch and seak you out. Finally you started your own site…how thrilled I was…my favorit instructor now had his own website with training videos…which I have purchased quite a few. The reason I follow you Matt is your unique ability to help me understand what all those tools in Photoshop “might” allow me do. You say you have no formal teaching education, well the school of hard knock or you kids have helped you to be one of the very best “image” educators. Happy you have a new course. Kudos Matt K!
Very cool story, Matt. I’m MUCH older than you, and I came to computers and technology in the big box days when computers had their own air-conditioned rooms. My first job out of college was as a systems analyst in a bank. My goal was to use computers to solve logistics problems or to do financial modeling. My first programs were written in FORTRAN on punched cards. I’d carry the big boxes of cards to an off-site computer that allowed outside users. As soon as desktop computers were available, we got a very early Apple at home. I had a desktop PC at work (because I could), but it’s doubtful much productive output came from it. Never mind, I loved it and was an early user of CompuServe – so I had email. Fast forward to the later 90s; our son was in college in IT and gave me a copy of Photoshop. Don’t remember the version, but it was a whole new world. I’ve had a current copy of PS ever since. When I got my first digital camera (a Nikon CoolPix with the articulating body), I was a happy camper. Then, I found NAPP and Scott and you and other wonderful teachers. Thanks for your story – brings back good memories – and thanks for being such a wonderful teacher.
Great to hear how many twists and turns a person has in their life direction! Thanks for sharing your journey. Now I don’t feel so bad that I’ve changed careers a number of times. Besides, it keeps life interesting and keeps you learning. Speaking of which, I have a number of your books which now are on my bookcase in need of attention but the digital courses I have bought from you take priority as they are now my level. I think it was Photoshop 4 that I started with back in 2000 or so and there have been lots of changes, as you well know. Thanks for being so transparent and always accessible! I like your down-to-earth style and openness. Keep up the great work!
Oh, I enjoyed this so much. Thanks for sharing, Matt.
The company I worked for went out of business in 1994 so I had their Photoshop Mac version. Adobe, at my request, sent me a PC version. I upgraded the versions a number of times; I remember having 2.0, 4.0, and 7.0, and CS2. I used CS2 until the current subscription version.
I have am trying to remember how I got digital images at first but I guess it was from a scanner? I got my first digital camera (Epson PhotoPC) circa 1999. I only did simple stuff like cropping in the first number of years.
Interesting Matt, how you have progressed eh. My first encounter with Photoshop – utter confusion!
Thanks for that Matt. Keep up the good work.
John
cool backstory…thanks for sharing
Started with Photoshop around the same time you did. Photoshop 2. I was a newspaper photographer had been for close over 30 years. The paper I was working for was one of the very early large papers to go into the digital world. One day I was told that what I had been doing in the darkroom for 30 years I would start in 3 days doing on the computer ( at my house we had a commodore. only computer I had ever seen). Oh by the way we do not have time to offer any training I was told.
IBM had jest come out with the PS-2 So found one on the way home..My brother in laws photo supply business sold Photoshop, got that also PS2 as I recall, may have been 1 but think it was version 2. So I was self taught, very few manures out then and most only 1/2 worthwhile . Interesting days .
years later.. 20 years retired still use Photoshop most every day along with light room and a bit of On1…. Still enjoy it. I am now working with photos I shot way back in the dark ages many while I was in Jr High and High School.
My photographic life is much like yours. Only my first PS was bootlegged – I just wanted to see if I could figure it out before I paid money for the program. To this day I use PS daily, and buy the cloud… which is a problem when there is no internet available.
I don’t remember my first project in Photoshop (probably doing enlargements). I do remember looking at the program and thinking “Oh my god, I have to lean all of this”. I am now in Photoshop 2020 and thinking the same thing. Incidentally to day is my birthday and I am 80 years old, a bit older than Photoshop.
I think I bought PS 2.5 on 13 51/4 disks in Hong Kong years and years ago. Totally overwhelmed. PS 3 with layers became more interesting. You and Scott were great foundational teachers (oh yeah Dr. Brown too). You are an excellent teacher, so thanks for the serendipitous origins story.