What inspired you to become a photographer?

Looking back, I would say my inspiration to become a photographer came from my dad. My dad passed away when I was a child, so I spent a lot time looking at the photographs he had taken through out his life and travels. Those pictures sparked something in me that wanted to create memories and art that would live on long past my lifetime.

How would you describe your photography style?

This is tough one for me to answer, because I never want to lock my creativity into one specific description! I think photography matches the personality of the photographer. I love for my pictures to have a natural and peaceful feeling them. On the other hand, I really enjoy an edge "editorial" vibe! I try to only enhance the natural colors of a photo unless I'm going for a vintage moody effect.

What equipment do you use, and why?

I shoot with a Canon R. It's a mirrorless camera that allows a faster response time. My go to lens has been a "nifty 50". As my business has grown I've had to opportunity to add a higher quality lens to my bag. I'll now be using a 28-70 mm lens. I also enjoy using a 70-200 mm for long distances and wildlife photography. I've recently started dabbling in film photography too! My film setup includes 2 Canon AE-1's, a 50 mm lens, and a 70-210 mm lens. Hopefully, I will be offering film sessions as well in the near future!

How do you approach a photoshoot or session?

I approach a photoshoot with planning and a focus on capturing authentic moments. I really strive to create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for so my clients can feel natural and show genuine expressions. I keep a folder of poses and ideas on my phone that I can pull from to help assist the flow of a session.

What are your favorite subjects to photograph, and why?

Ultimately, my favorite subjects to photograph are wildlife. Which is funny, because I rarely get the opportunity! Wildlife photography is captivating to me because of how natural it is. (Pretty obvious right?) What I mean on that is, there are no poses, all of the setup and preparation is based solely on me. I have to be ready at any moment to capture the perfect shot. Now on my business side, I really enjoy portrait sessions. All of the focus is on person. Their personality, their movements, their individual shine!

What role does post-processing play in your workflow?

Post-processing is an integral part of my workflow. This is where you can really get into the colors and details. I start by backing up my photos to a hard drive. I hand edit each photo. This allows me to enhance and refine images to match the vision while maintaining the authenticity of the moment.

How do you stay inspired and keep your creativity flowing?

I try to remind myself that there is always something new for me to learn! I'm striving to always be better. With each session and every edit, I'm giving myself an opportunity to step up as a photographer and a business owner. What keeps my inspiration is that I know, all the work, the learning, and the improving will mold me into the photographer I will one day be!

What advice would you give to aspiring photographers?

Keep going! We will never be the people we're supposed to be if we don't give ourselves a fair chance. The neat thing about photography is that is really is an art. Art will change as the artist changes, so don't let yourself feel like you have to stay in a box to succeed. Everyone struggles with feeling burned out, but if you take that unsureness and channel it into improving and changing, you will make it!

What do you hope people feel or experience when they see your photos?

I hope people feel a moment in time when they see my photos. Not necessarily from the when the picture was taken. What does the photo remind them of? A song they sang together, the warmth of the sun, or a conversation in the car. I want my clients to experience a true rememberable moment when they look at my work.