A little bit about me
I am a mom of 3 kiddos- a daughter in high school- 14, a daughter in middle school- 12, and son in elementary who is almost 10.
I am a wife to an incredible man and we’ve been married 15 years.
I started photography in high school, and graduated from college with a Bachelor of the Arts but focused more on studio art than digital. I loved charcoal drawings and oil painting. My dad worked in advertising, so I knew I wanted to be in the creative field. He helped me get my first job as a junior video editor and was trained on the job. We worked on commercials like carmax (which actually was at the Super Bowl that year).. and bojangles and some other ones that for me just didn’t give any meaning. So, they’d always give me the jobs they didn’t want like corporate videos or ones to raise money- at least it was a little more emotional than a car or a biscuit lol.
While there, we had access to online training videos through lynda… outside of office hours, I learned so much in photoshop, editing, and later, putting together a self-hosted website. I started editing/ retouching some of my sister’s wedding photography and decided I wanted to take photos too.
I bought her old DSLR camera with some of my wedding money, and started recruiting friends to pose for me. I thought I wanted to do fashion or model cards. I then ventured to craigslist and found a few clients. I also went to freedom park and offered to take photos of people and their dogs. I was introverted so this was a big deal.. but it would be the best route to making money to pay off what I spent on gear. I also promoted super cheap sessions on facebook. I got a few other gigs and sweet people taking a chance on me.
I also spent a lot of time reading the Bible online in my down time and hosting a girls Bible Study for middle schoolers. I felt God calling me to apply for a job that would pay me to do something I loved and had a passion for. I applied at a Christian school. The job I wanted (Bible teacher) wasn’t available, but I got hired to teach graphic design and web design to high schoolers. I had a new baby at the time, and they even provided child care on site. I left the video editing, and found myself as a teacher.
God opened the door for me to become the Bible teacher half way through the year to the girls Christian Growth class, because the teacher went on maternity leave. The next year she decided to stay home with her baby and I got to fill the spot! I stayed there for another year, but once I had baby #2, I longed to just stay home and manage my own schedule with doing photography. My photography business had grown enough to supplement my teacher pay (before taxes).
I never get bored with photography. There’s always something inspiring, something challenging or something that I want to learn. There’s also a whole business side to it and then marketing your business. Each year there’s room to grow, learn and dream and I’m thankful each year clients trust me to capture their family.
Why I do what I do
The absence of photos created gaps in my memory- the memories of my mom’s presence, the evidence of seeing how my parents loved me, and later, the feeling of worth in being documented.
To me, photographs are the PROOF and the evidence of presence.
My best memories weren’t posed or perfect, they were in motion. They were full of play. I remember the smell of my mom’s hairspray, my dad’s pillow, and the taste of kraft spiral macaroni and strawberries from the farmers market. I remember my mom’s voice behind the camera while she captured us swinging and singing at the top of our lungs. My memories were based on senses. So I incorporate eating and playing into my sessions if possible.
Later, I used to think it was the elite, the pretty, the superior that were in photos because that’s what the magazines showed me on the aisles. We didn’t have phones with cameras in our pockets like we do now. You had to BE someone to be photographed. You had to have an occasion. You had to have someone who WANTED you to be in their photo. In my work, I want to say, you’re wanted. You are NEEDED in this photo. Without you in this photo, there will be a gap- something missing.
My work is redemption for those gaps- those missing memories I have.
I am called to photograph moms to show them they are enough, worthy, seen and beautiful, and important- especially in the chaos. I want her to be found in photos. I want my sessions to include your senses with lots of play and memory making. I want these photos to be proof of how you loved, you played, and you comforted. Your family is worth being documented.
