Creating images is my way of tapping into my purpose : to love and encourage people. To provide images to a bride that will for her lifetime, remind her of the love her husband has for her excites me. Watching a teen bloom with confidence on my office couch as we view their senior portraits makes my insides turn bright and fuzzy. Images have a strong power to change our perspective.
In May of 2009 I was a lucky graduate of Western Kentucky University’s prestigious photojournalism program. My professors and fellow students taught me how to take better images, tell clearer stories and to be visually compassionate. It was there that my craft fostered a strong love for people inside of me. Learning to view the human condition from the back of a camera makes my heart sing and sharing those transformative images that can change people’s mindsets excites me most.
While at WKU I documented an extraordinary youth football coach, who with the help of my picture story was featured in USA TODAY’s USA Weekend magazine as 2009 Coach of the Year. His league football team was gifted more than $2000 and the coach inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. I began a long-term project that examines how young women in our nation grow up. Both of these stories can be viewed by clicking above on info, works of heart. It is the process of telling stories like these that my heart beats for.
Upon graduation, I was blessed to move to my hometown of Shelbyville, Ky. I now reside in our sweet, historic downtown where I share a loft apartment and studio with my Westie dog, Leila Loo.
In viewing my images, I hope something stirs inside of you. A picture is only as good as it makes you feel. Enjoy!