The Nitty Gritty

I have been sharing my work with you for three years now and realized something important today. I haven't shared who I am with you. And I mean like the nitty gritty. I know that being in front of a camera can make you feel vulnerable, so I'm going to put myself in a vulnerable situation and share some things with you.

I grew up in a small town called Templeton in California. My graduating class was just over 60 students. I spent my childhood with almost every one of them, and you know what.... I didn't really know any of them; and they didn't really know me either. How is this even possible?! I was incredibly shy!! But I didn't let anyone know this because I was also self conscious, wondering if I was good enough all of the time. I was too afraid to be myself. But this changed once I graduated high school.

After graduating high school comes the inevitable, deciding what to do for the rest of your life! In school I had an interest in photography, but there weren't any classes at Templeton, so once I graduated, my family gifted me with my first camera, but I was too unsure about myself to charge for any services. It was only a hobby. So as I was working at my first job; a pizzeria in downtown Templeton. A man came in, he was friends with the owner of the shop. He was a photographer, and was helping another photographer find models for a lighting workshop he was hosting in our area. The girls at the pizzeria were all very pretty and so we were asked to model for the project. Modeling was so intimidating, but the photographers made me feel so comfortable, I was uplifted, ad felt important and beautiful. Like, by just being who I was, was good enough.

After my modeling fun, life went on. I met a guy in a photography class during college, we started hanging out and began dating. He took me on so many adventures, and taught me to not be afraid to say what was on my mind. I was also on a spiritual journey, learning that "I could do all thing through Christ who gives me strength" (Phillipeans 4:13) And so that shell that I hid myself in was broken away, I was no longer afraid to be me. And you know what, the real me must have not been so bad after all. Two years later the guy that I was dating became my husband, and than we had our baby boy. Than the question rose again, what should I do with the rest of my life, that will bring in an income for my family, but can also be used for God's purpose? And it hit me, I was a talented photographer, I knew that there were more people like me, who didn't feel like they were good enough. And I witnessed how a photographer could make you feel good about yourself if they do it right. And so my intention is this, to help others understand that they are good enough, just by being who they are, and to let them see how beautiful they are.