with much love, I thank you

I’ve loved cameras for as long as I can remember. I remember borrowing my parents’ Pentax for my first solo adventure with high school friends on our Spanish-class trip to Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. I remember struggling to change film rolls on the top of El Castillo, in Chichen Itza.

I’ve gathered quite a few of my own cameras since then, always the one in the family to make everyone stop and smile. It wasn’t until I had to use one for work, that I started to get serious about figuring out to use one properly. I wanted to make my photos look like the ones I saw online. How did they get that creamy background? What were they doing to make those eyes sparkle?

That’s when I turned the dial from AUTO to M, and I haven’t looked back since. Devouring every article, book, and blog I could find, begging friends to be my modeling guinea pigs, joining workshops. None of that has changed, actually. I’m still striving to improve and always trying to make my best better. What did change was 10 years ago (10 YEARS!), I decided to be brave and turn this little hobby of mine into an actual, real business. Did I know what I was doing? No. Did my friends and family think I was crazy? I’m sure. Do I still doubt myself? Some days, yes.

Today is October, which means it’s my anniversary month. At the beginning of this year I was debating big plans for a 10-year celebration. Then, you know, Covid. Lots and lots of plans for this year have been put on the back burner, but I’m okay with that. Sometimes it’s good to just take a step back and reflect; focus (pun intended) on rejuvenation and restoration. I’ve had so much fun going back through 10 years of photos, seeing how “my style” has developed (again, pun intended), and changed over the years.

So, while I won’t be throwing a big party, I do want to thank everyone who’s ever given me a chance. Your support and encouragement over the last 10 years means more than I can express. Please enjoy the flashbacks I’ll be sharing this month. I hope they bring a smile to your face as they do mine. Remember to keep smiling under those masks out there. A true smile will shine out of your eyes.
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Cheers to the next 10 years!

*R* may have been one of the first photos I posted online. Many thanks to Angela and David for letting me practice on their family before I really knew what I was doing.

​Stay tuned all month for more fun flashbacks.