About

Who are you?

Thanks for asking… I’m a girl in her mid-to-late twenties, who thoroughly enjoys taking pictures. Sometimes I do it just for fun, sometimes people pay me to do it, but it’s always a great time. I love to meet new people and make new friends, although I can come off as shy and reserved at times. I’m a bit of perfectionist, but my clients tend to like that about me.  I love reality TV, photoshopping, being lazy at home, celebrity gossip, binge shopping at target and spending time with my dogs and fiance.

Where did you come from?

I was born in Anchorage, Alaska.  You might as well not ask me about Alaska, as my parents moved when I was 8 days old, and I have zero memory of the beautiful state. I would love to visit my homeland one day, but unfortunately, I enjoy warm weather and have not convinced anyone to travel all the way to Alaska with me. 

I have lived in many cities around the world, which is easier to describe in bullet form:

• Anchorage, Alaska- 8 days
• Houston, Texas – on and off for several years
• Cairo, Egypt- 5 years
• Perth, Australia- 1 year
• London, England- 1 1/2 years
• Valparaiso, Indiana- 6 months

Why did you move so much?

No, my father is not in the military, but good guess.  He actually is an engineer for an oil company and we have been moving and traveling since I can remember. It’s completely normal to me and I can’t imagine a life without a trip here and there.  Moving/traveling has been an eye opener and it has been great to learn about other cultures.  One of my first memories of being in America was asking my neighbor if she had ever heard of Hot Dogs.  It is funny to think I imagined America’s Favorite Food was native to Egypt, but that is what growing up overseas does to you. It also appears I have had an obsession with this unhealthy food for a long time.

Egypt!? Did you ride a camel to school? Was your house a pyramid?

Both very logical questions, but no, I rode in a car to school, like all the other children and our house, was in fact a house. Egypt, while not the safest place on earth, was a fun place to live and I have very fond memories of my childhoold there.  I would love to go back one day.

 

When did you become a photographer?

Let’s just say if it was possible for me to own a camera in the womb, it would have happened.  I have enjoyed taking pictures my entire life.  I spent many road trips and vacations watching my mom and great aunt, both of which are camera junkies, stop on the side of the road on trips to take pictures of everything. I didn’t understand the artistic side of photographing at that age, but I definitely inherited the gene early on.

As I got older, and digital photography got more popular, my obsession with picture taking became a little excessive.  In order to keep my obsession sane, I turned it into a career! My wonderful fiance bought me a Canon Rebel XSI one Chritsmas, and from that point forward I have loved every minute of scheduling and shooting portrait sessions and weddings.

Do you have a degree in photography?

I do not have an actual degree in photography, but I do have a minor in studio art.  I got my Bachelors degree in Media Production from the University of Houston where I studied all forms of media, design and communication.  I took a photography class in college, which I DREADED (can you imagine?) and decided to focus on a program with a wider range and variety. 

Do you do photography full time?

Actually, no.  For now it’s a part time job, as I am also the marketing director for a Salvage company.  I’ve been in marketing for over 7 years and it has been great experience. With that said, my heart is always with photography and I’m willing to use every little bit of spare time I have to shoot! Most of my photo sessions take place on weekends, which is usually preferred by my clients anyway.

Random Facts:

• I love hot dogs, by far my favorite food
• I ran cross-country and track for the majority of my life– you would never know it by my lack of running over the past few years.  I competed on a collegiate level in both sports
• I hate bananas, pretty much everything about them gross me out, but I don’t mind them in a blended drink on the beach
• I love going to the movies and have been known to go alone at times
• I would spend every minute of my life by the ocean or a lake if it was possible
• I would probably die if I couldn’t travel