Unabridged: Getting to Know the Artist
Why are visual stories so important to me?
As a portrait artist, I am passionate about using photography as a storytelling medium.
We live in a world where not everyone is empowered to tell their own story. A world in which some people are afforded the privilege of raising their voice and being heard while others are forgotten or marginalized. But, how can you look at an image of another human being and ignore their unique spirit, their value, and our common humanity? From the moment we breathe our first breath, our story begins. Our faces, wrinkles, and scars are the map of what has past, our eyes are the windows into the soul.
In the whirlwind of our responsibilities, we forget to stop and reflect on what is going on around us. So often my clients come in for their selection appointments and I hear them say, “my family is just not that beautiful.” But the fact is, your family – and each person in your life – is indeed just that beautiful. We get so busy, or frustrated, or tired, that we forget to stop and just look at our family. We cannot see the people and the beauty through all of the chaos and turmoil. In my work, I have the enormous privilege of helping my clients look at their own loved ones as observers, realizing how much joy and love and warmth we have in our lives. It is a gift to be able to slow down and take a moment to create a portrait that truly embraces and celebrates the essence of your child, your partner, your family. To tell your story in a powerful image that preserves your legacy for generations.
How do we work together to tell your story?
For every portrait experience, it is critical to begin our journey spending at least an hour together to start to understand your own unique story. Through our visits, our choice of location, our selection of style, we are making the outline of each uniquely designed portrait. We talk about personalities, we talk about relationships, we talk about physical characteristics, we talk about places, and more. Through trust and communication, I work hard to make each person feel safe, confident, beautiful, and at ease so that we can create a portrait that reveals the heart and the essence that is at the core of each family and individual and is a true representation of you and your relationships.