After about ten rough draft versions for my about me page, I have come to the realization that I really struggle to write about myself. I have filled our recycling box many times over with crumpled up bits of paper and then find myself staring at a blank page all over again.
I don’t like talking about myself, I never have. But I want you to know me, know why I am doing what I am doing and know how much I truly love what I do. I love it so much. I love that the moment I found photography I feel I woke up. I feel I found a way to express myself and put my emotions and feelings and my heart, not on my sleeve but on beautiful fine art paper. The images I take speak to me, from the moment the shutter is pressed on my camera. I feel it. I first learned photography from my father. We would take our camera’s out and he taught me all the basics on lighting and basically how to operate a manual film camera. I was 12. I loved the time we spent together, it was truly a special time for me. Now I have been in business, for the past 4 years in Victoria. I never expected that this was the path I would take, but I am finding the importance of following your heart and taking risks. Including leaving safe jobs, for unexpected business ventures because your heart feels happy.
I have a vivid memory of the power of a photograph. I was in my grandmothers basement., the wooden steps with no backing on them, the concrete unfinished floor, the wooden boxes of memories. I remember my brother and sister and I exploring what was in those boxes. I remember seeing old photographs of my mom. I remember the emotion and joy and fun we had imagining our mom as a little girl. I remember running up my grandmothers steps with the photos in our hands, I remember asking questions…. How old were you? What were you doing in this photo? Where was your bedroom in the house? why is there a hole in the drywall? what park in the neighbourhood did you go to? Is it still there? Can we go?
By looking at those photographs we started to learn about my mom. Her favorite places to go as a child. How she loved the dog that was in that one photo, that the boy with her in another photo was her very best friend. That she was a tomboy. That she never wanted to come home until after dark, and it was because she had to. That she was a great baseball player, that she was amazing at marbles and used to win all the kids marbles at school. We felt like we won a lottery that day looking at those images.
This is the power of a photograph. This is what inspires me to take photos. This is what not only inspires me to create beautiful imagery, but to help my clients print the photographs, in a way that will preserve the memories and make them last. So that someone elses children can come running up their grandmothers stairs with joy in their eyes holding a beautiful image of their mom or dad when they were a child.
This is my story. This is what I create when we take our photo adventure together.
Once upon a time…