The best way to get to know me is to spend time with the people I love.
First I am a daughter, so it's important to learn about my parents. I always say that my mom gave me her heart and my dad gave me his head. My mom taught me how to care for people and the super power that is showing up, while my dad taught me discernment and the art of conversation. Growing up and watching them turn strangers into friends just by talking to them is something I cherish and something I hope to emulate. A special shoutout needs to be made to my dad for being the family documentarian for years...the home videos that we break out every once in awhile are priceless and taught me the value of a photograph and a home movie.
Next, I am a big sister, a cousin, and a niece. My not so little lil brother (a 6' 4" golfer) has this innate ability to make me laugh the hardest. He has also shown me what a calm and steady dedication to your craft looks like. He chases his dream daily and he reminds me to go with the flow, which is the same philosophy I carry into any photo session. My cousins keep me young. They've taught me how to be a kid at heart and have the most fun. They've also shown me what it feels like to be completely at ease being yourself around people. I truly want people to feel comfortable being themselves when they're walking into my life or in front of my lens. My aunts and uncles have shown me love and the power of family. Getting to run around family reunions with my disposable camera was priceless and getting to document weddings of family members has made my heart so happy and made me feel abundantly grateful for the ability to capture so many memories.
Finally, I am a friend. I love being a friend. I've been blessed with some pretty amazing people walking alongside me throughout life: the longtime childhood friends who grew up with me, the college friends who made and continue to make me laugh, my grad school friends who encouraged me always, and my new friends within the creative community in Austin, Texas. These people have helped shape who I am and have been gracious enough to let me photograph them when we are hanging out. They have taught me how important laughter is, how food tastes better when it's shared with good company, and how much you cherish a photo of a moment when you're all together. My friends are driven, patient, adventurous, imaginative, creative, fun, goofy, and kind - all things I aspire to be.
Overall, I am a culmination of all the people in my life, which results in the frizzy haired goofball you see behind the camera. If we happen to meet one day, I hope you feel at home in front of my lens and you feel comfortable coming as you are. Below are photos of a few (certainly not all) people who have shaped me and who are the reason I believe in human sunshine.
