Before I was a photographer, I worked in the realm of child protection and mental health. I was a caseworker with Child Protective Services and an Intensive Case Manager for children with mental health diagnoses.

I have literally worked with every behavior you could imagine. I have sat with people going through "their rock bottom" and worse case scenarios of life and have tried to help them navigate through it to better times.

You can imagine, this was not exactly the most relaxing line of work. I generally only saw the worst of human behavior on a daily basis and spent a lot of time proverbially putting out fires.

After my son was born, I decided I didn't want to be on the front lines anymore. I needed to step away and take care of myself and my family. As he grew a bit older, the desire I had to give photography a go grew stronger as well.

Fast forward almost a decade and I still get to work with families, but in a much more positive light. I get to help you capture the beauty and connection you share at this stage of life for all time. I get to help you create a legacy for your family and future generations.

I get to work with mamas who are juggling more than any one human should be capable of and remind her that she is a beautiful and worthy being who deserves to feel like the work of art she is.

Being a photographer allows me to connect with others and reflect back to them the value of relationships, the value of self love, and the value of our connections with each other.

To be honest, this was the part of my job in the field of social work that I loved. Connecting with others, sharing that there is hope of a better life, and showing them how to see life in a different light.

I'll always be an advocate for children and I still volunteer with organizations devoted to helping children who've been neglected/abused, but being a photographer and creating an experience that allows people to see their beauty is the most fulfilling career I could have ever imagined, and I'm grateful for every day I get to do this work.