My Journey Into Photography: From Family Trips to Creative Portraits

falling in love with moments

There’s something I’ve always loved about capturing moments in time. Maybe that’s a little too poetic, but there’s something about the click of a shutter and a snapshot that I have always been fond of.

where it all began

I was immersed in photography from a young age. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to go on adventures with my family in an RV. From Arches National Park to Bar Harbor, Maine, there was one thing that all of these travels had in common - a camera in my dad’s hands.

He was in his high school’s photo club in the early eighties, shooting on 35mm film and developing it in the darkroom that his parents made in their house (which is still there when I visit my grandmother’s). Fast forward to my childhood, and he always brought a Nikon D7100 on our trips. I would be the subject of many photos. Test shots, accidental photo bombs, you name it. 

As I got older, I became curious about the art. My brothers each got their own cameras and as the younger sister, I was fascinated by anything they did. I would ask them to adjust the settings just so I could hold the camera and press the shutter button. I was hooked.

In middle school, I started taking pictures of everything. And I mean, everything. Flowers, trees, and random objects in my room. These photos weren’t great, but hey. We all have to start somewhere, right?

growing and learning

Eventually, I would ask to borrow my dad’s Nikon. At 14, I couldn’t really fathom how expensive photography gear was. Lol. I would walk around with his macro lens and take pictures of flowers like I saw him do growing up. 

All I wanted to do was shoot. It’s around this time that I started asking my friends if I could use them as models for portrait photography. We would explore parks and cities, and I would kindly force them in front of the lens. I will always be grateful to everyone who supported me, especially back then. Many mistakes were made along the way, certainly when I switched to manual mode.

I was still in high school when I did my first paying client portrait photography shoot. I was asked to take senior photos for a friend’s sister and I think this moment was when it hit me: I LOVED taking photos and I realized I could make this more than just a hobby. So in my spare time, I started learning whatever I could.

how self-portraits helped me grow as a photographer

When the pandemic hit in 2020, I (like everyone else) was dealing with boredom and loneliness. I missed shooting, but I couldn’t see my friends! I had a thought. I have a tripod and a self-timer! And so began the self-portraits.

Since that time during lockdown, I’ve developed and shot around 70 different self-portrait concepts. I built sets in my parents’ basement, learned how to use studio lighting, learned how to pose and was really able to get creative without fear. I created clouds out of Poly-fil, covered my walls in foil, photographed with almost every fruit to exist, and was able to create some pretty fun things. These photoshoots helped me gain confidence in not only my technical skills, but also in myself.

where i am today

I am so grateful to still be shooting. Every time I get asked to take photos for someone, I almost pinch myself.  It’s an honor to capture important milestones for high school seniors, college grads, and couples who just got engaged. 

To anyone who has ever been in front of my lens, thank you. I owe so much to those who let me develop my skills and supported my creativity over the last decade.

Whether you’re considering booking a session, looking for inspiration, or simply curious about my work, I’d love for you to follow along. And if you’re ready to capture your own story through photos, I’d be honored to create something beautiful with you: contact me today!