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| ABOUT ME |
Figuring out where my place was in this great, big, beautiful world of opportunity wasn’t easy. I grew up in a small town in Colorado, and thanks to my loving parents, I grew up with the mentality that I could do anything - so that's what I did! Horseback riding, tennis, volleyball, basketball, I danced, I played the piano, I was a half way decent skier, and I was even a gymnast for five years until my legs grew so long that my teacher finally told me, “hmmm, not gonna happen my dear.” I made life long friends, and truly had the Norman Rockwell childhood, and yes, I did cultivate some good old fashioned Midwestern values along the way (maybe it is a territorial thing?).
If you're still reading...that's awesome!
I attended CU Boulder, known as one of the top party schools in the nation, (and I almost hate to admit just how fun it was! I’m still reeling and just thankful I am alive.) Somehow, I got a degree in English Literature, a lovely and romantic subject, I know. But funny thing - reading books doesn’t pay the rent! I began to long to do one thing, and to do it really, really well.
Thankfully, while becoming the best waitress in Santa Barbara my creative juices kicked in and led me to the Brooks Institute of Photography. Wow! My eyes were opened, my heart fired up, and passion, real passion for the art of photography over took me. I remember my parents always used to ask me, "Well, what are you passionate about?" And I always gave an annoyed shrug as I rolled my eyes. But, when I discovered photography, I could finally define passion and knew what it meant. I was so grateful that I had somehow managed to corral it into my experience. I wanted more. I was surrounded by the most amazing, creative energy, and it was so electrifying.
I immediately began thinking that of course I would be a fashion photographer. I loved the whole idea of the beautiful clothes, artsy people, fabulous locations - unlimited possibilities! BUT the idea of living in Los Angeles or New York was a little daunting to this country girl, and I was hard pressed to meet a fashion photographer who wasn’t always on edge, moody, and broke. Then, I discovered portraiture, and children, and I was like a kid in a candy store. Capturing childhood, capturing a babies wondering eyes, oh my gosh, it’s too fun, it’s too wonderful… what did I ever do to deserve such fulfillment? So three years later, I finished my course work for my Masters in Photography (still need to write that thesis - geesh!) but times they are a changing, and what I've learned is that all the degrees in the world are no substitue for passion and right now the passion is enough.
Then someone asked me to shoot a wedding just as a favor and since I had been forced to shoot my brother's wedding a few short months before - I decided why not? I think I got paid a hundred bucks. He was in the military, and it was in the bride’s tiny backyard, at night, with no lighting whatsoever. Nightmare!! But it still was so joyful, and the people were happy, and I loved thinking that I was documenting the beginning of something good and important, and life-long, and I did my very best. And they LOVED the pictures, and I’d finally found my niche and something truly magical began. I’ve had my doubts along the way, once I had to overcome the fear that what I was doing was trivial, but that was short lived.
Documenting good, preserving the memories of what makes our country great – the all American family – is important! As I watch the world trying to destroy itself with so much fear and sadness, I want us to remember, to see and reflect on the moments that are at the very center of our happiness. I want to remember the good times, the childhoods, and the life altering moments, and I want to help others remember them too. And, I want to do it really, really well.
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