“It’s pretty incredible to think those life’s moments were frozen in time, and here we are decades later and I get to hold that moment in my hands.”
I love pictures. I always have. I have albums and boxes full of memories of my family growing up and I’m so grateful for these treasures. One of my favorite things is pulling old photo albums out and showing my boys. The oldest photos I think are my favorite. Seeing my dad’s long locks from his glory days, or my handsome grandfather captured in his Navy uniform, or a photo of my mom at her first easter. One of my favorite’s is a self portrait my grandmother took in her early 20s, so timeless and beautiful. It’s pretty incredible to think those life’s moments were frozen in time, and here we are decades later and I get to hold that moment in my hands. My grandmother taught me a lot and was a great influence in my life growing up. There are so many things I’m grateful for, but passing on her love of photography to me is something I will cherish forever.
Funny enough though, I didn’t always know that I would be a professional photographer when I “grew up.” Yes, it was always a big part of my life. My walls in my room growing up were full of pictures. I always had a camera in my hand. For my high school senior project I built a dark room in my grandparents garage. I took courses in high school and in college, and for a brief moment in college I thought, could I? Should I? But I then I didn’t. Before officially launching my business in 2010, I was a graphic designer for 8 years. But the pull of photography and my love for it always tugged silently at me. After I got married, I picked the camera back up and I slowly started photographing friends kiddos and families, then my own babies. I finally realized it’s where I wanted and needed to be. My love and connection with photography is just too strong.
As I fumble through this thing called life, I am finding that time keeps speeding by faster and faster. Along the way I’m always trying to grow, simplify, slow down and just do life better and more meaningful— as a wife, as a mom, and as an artist. I think this is where the word “Authentic” has sort of evolved from. To me it means real. Honest. Raw. Imperfect. I find some of my favorite shots of my boys are when I capture them being…well, just themselves, and those images are so cherished. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the images I get of them both looking and smiling, but the ones where they are belly laughing at something silly, or that serious stare when they are imagining the unknown, or my littlest hands holding my husbands. Those little authentic moments are so magical to me. I want to bottle them up, and keep them forever and that’s just what I plan to do!
And I want that for you! I want to capture your family in the very same way. Those in between moments and the connection you have as a family, or the simple beauty of your high school graduate and the way she looks off into the distance at that big beautiful world that’s in front of her—all should be documented, so that one day, decades into the future your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren can catch a glimpse of these moments, and hold them in their hands.
