I always really enjoyed taking photos throughout my childhood, but never even considered that it would be a legitimate career for me. Growing up as a dancer, I had goals to pursue dance professionally after High School. To be honest, I didn't even know that full time photographers existed. I thought all the people taking my family photos growing up just did it on the weekends for fun. So imagine how my life changed when I realized that I could actually do this hobby as a full time job. Throughout college, I studied Health Sciences at the University of Missouri Kansas City. I was already growing my photography business during that time, and realized that I should get my degree in something unrelated to photography- just in case I ever needed something to fall back on.

When I was a junior in college, the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 happened. Being stuck inside all the time, I was inspired more than ever to create art that I was passionate about. I used that time to explore the editorial side of portraits, setting up elaborate set designs in the spare bedroom of my childhood home. I learned how to make a website that was actually good, to market my photo services, and to network with the creative community around me. 

I think that portrait photography captures behavior rather than moments. A great photographer should capture the essence of who you are. Of course, there are special moments to be captured. But it is within the unposed moments, that you get to truly see who people are. My senior shoots capture the story of growth. My couples/engagement shoots capture the story of love. My weddings capture the story of starting a new family. I am a story teller by nature, and my photos reflect that.