Starting from a very young age, being creative was a part of who I was. I love the process of creating and having a finished product to sit back and admire. My journey to finding photography started when I was young and has now evolved into a true passion.

When I was in my early teens my cousin was in photography school. She always needed models to practice on, so she would drag me out of bed at 6am. She would take me up and down the street taking pictures of me in order to practice lighting. I would complain but honestly, I loved being in front of the camera. That experience being in front of the camera set a foundation for my love of photography now.

My First DSLR

Later on in life when I was pregnant with my daughter Emma, I had to be induced. Before going to the hospital I freaked out and told my husband that we had to have a nice camera to document the birth. As a young couple at 23 and 25, who were about to become parents, we didn’t have a lot of money to spend on things like a camera. However, when your anxious freaked out wife who is about to give brith has her heart set on something, you make it happen.

On the way to the hospital we ran into to Target and grabbed the cheapest Canon DSLR camera kit. We then headed off to the hospital to have a baby. We then unboxed the camera in the hospital room, read a few instructions. The first picture we took with it was of the paper coming out of the machine monitoring my contractions. I was very thankful there was an automatic mode because we had no idea how to use that thing. A week after she was born, I realized that an Iphone was much more convenient. To my husbands dismay, that camera I so desperately needed, found its new home on a shelf in our room and remained there for years. 

Needing an Outlet

I have now been a stay at home mom to my four children for just over 7 years now. Being home with my kids has been wonderful but I needed some sort of creative outlet. I decided to find a hobby that could satisfy my need for creativity. After a few failed attempts at finding a hobby I came across that old DSLR camera. Needing to learn more about it, I opened youtube and dove into some photography education. I quickly fell in love.

As I began to practice photography more I realized that I could create a space of comfort for my kids. I was able to get photos of them that I was never able to get in previous family photo sessions. This led me to dream and think about whether or not I could provide this for other families as well.

Starting the Business

I am excited to continue to learn and grow in my skills as a photographer. This business allows me to meet many new people and grow my community. It is an honor to be able to document moments in peoples stories and create a keepsake that will last a lifetime. I am filled with gratitude that they trust me with such a task.

Finding this new area to grow in has allowed me to express myself in a new way. Stepping out of my comfort zone has been a challenge and has honestly felt quite vulnerable. However, the benefits have far outweighed the risk. I am excited to keep taking new steps forward in this adventure. If you have been feeling stuck in life, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. Take some pictures, put paint on a canvas or start the thing has been in the back of your mind. What is one thing you can try in order express yourself in a new way?