I never thought I would be a photographer. When I was young, my plans for the future were to either be an Olympic equestrian or an elementary school teacher. While I eventually gave up the former (though I do still enjoy riding), I set my sights on the education world and got two degrees and a job as a special educator.
Photography has always been a hobby of mine and I did small shoots for friends and family from the time I was in high school until I was three years into my teaching career. At that point, friends, family, and a supportive husband urged me to pursue it further. Tentatively, I started my business in 2017 and gained momentum -- slowly but steadily.
Fast forward to this fall: I’m still teaching, but I have been booked every single weekend since before school started with paying clients. I am completely humbled by my steady stream of inquiries, and so incredibly excited to finally be producing work that I am proud of. Images that capture the intimacy of relationships, the individuality in personalities, and the beauty of a single moment.
When asked to describe my favorite session, I could not for the life of me decide. The truth is, I love every single one. They are all as unique and precious to me as the people I’m photographing. No, I do not know every client, but that’s the thing: I love getting to know them. Like teaching, I love it enough that I can push aside my inherent shyness for the opportunity to show my students and my clients how wonderful they are inside and out. I love creating an image that makes my clients feel beautiful, loved, or special in some way and seeing their reactions to their galleries. It’s the same feeling I get when one of my students finally figures something out or gets their first ever perfect test score. It’s what keeps me going in both careers.
I am beyond grateful for this life that I’ve been given: A life in which, as part of my job, I experience so many joyous moments that it’s impossible to choose one as a favorite. My goal with my business is to share that joy far and wide and to capture those special moments in a series of images for clients to look back on for years to come.
