How We Got Here

I had struggled for a while with what my purpose as a photographer was. I started off my journey by being self taught. I couldn't tell you how but something inside of me knew I was meant to do photography. For my 16th birthday I wanted a camera instead of a car. I feel like that says something. I shot anything and everything I could. I went off to college in NYC  and studied at the International Center of Photography where I became studio trained. I then became a teacher there and did fashion portrait work. I graduated college, survived a pandemic, and then moved across the country. I went through a period of time where I lost my spark. I was doing photography because I could and not because I wanted to. What I mean by that is I was shooting, and it was fun but I wasn't doing it for me. It wasn't fulfilling. Everything changed when I went on a last minute road trip through Montana & Wyoming. I was able to experience Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP, and The Grand Tetons. Due to the incredibly moving experience I had in those national parks, I visited 5 more the following year. 

In reality the next part of this story is going to sound silly. In a way, I see things through a different lens. It wasn’t until that trip that I really started to understand that people don’t see things the same way that I do. That it really is my perspective that made the photo. I could not wrap my head around the fact that they just didn’t see these moments the same way I did. That’s the whole reason I didn’t share nature shots much because to me they were too simple, they were what everyone could see. But that was just it, I didn’t see it the way other people did. That might sound like a no duh moment to you but it honestly was a wake up call to me. 

Where are these life changing photos you ask? Rotting on a hard drive of course. That was until I made it my New Year’s resolution (I know… Lame.) to share my work. Anyway… To start that process I went through all of my files again with fresh eyes and started building my portfolio. To help me review these shots, I shared them with my husband by projecting them on our T.V. and explaining the story behind the photo. Here is where my perspective realization really set in. He sat there and listened to me explain what I saw, and what made the shot so important to me. His eyes widened, and he took a moment. He told me that he “Never saw it that way”, that he had “Now seen things he simply didn’t before”. I didn’t understand how that was possible. I have since investigated this phenomena when it comes to my work, and I came up with an idea. I struggle with writing about my work which then makes me struggle to post it which is why I have had like 3 posts in the past few years. I would much rather talk to you about my work than write about it. Cue Seth. We had this beautiful moment where I was explaining my work and he was able to listen and translate my feelings back to me. We connected. And in turn, maybe through my photography you and I can too. 

From now on, I won't allow my photography to rot on a hard drive, you are going to see it on your timeline. I am going to share with you the way I see things. And hopefully, I can have an impact on not only the way you see the world, but how you treat it.