My journey as a photographer began in childhood. Grandma Carol made certain that every family get together was heavily documented with a dozen or more rolls of film. We lived halfway across the country from one another. In a big way, having a photo of a loved one, grandchild, daughter, in hand, made the distance seem a little less intolerable, the heart ache just a little less dull.

Weeks after our time together, without fail, we would receive a box from Grandma with a ziplock bag full of photos from our trip. Memories we’d already forgotten, re-emerged on a 4x6 inch sheet of high gloss. To this day, my favorite activity is to sit with a box of pictures and swipe through every last one.

I was gifted my first camera for my 10th birthday. I don’t remember the brand or specifics. I do know that it was cheap, it was purple, and it was perfect.

Years later, my Dead Head hippy father handed me his Nikon FM10 film SLR with a 300mm f4 prime lens. At the time, it was pretty old but worked great. From there on out, everywhere I went, I was taking photos.

Photography has evolved with me, through my explorations and adventures over the years, through motherhood and into my professional life. My inner ten year old jumps for joy every time I am gifted the opportunity to explore a new subject, a new face or a new place.