I have struggled with labeling myself as a certain kind of photographer for years, mostly because I was still figuring that out for myself. For a long time I thought the more specialized I was the less opportunity to make myself available to learn and grow. Did I call myself a children’s photographer because that’s what I enjoyed most? Or did I call myself a wedding photographer because I liked the challenge? Was I an ‘everything’ shooter? This business is really competitive and one of the hardest things is setting yourself apart.

One of my favorite quotes is, “Not all who wander are lost.” I think there’s a lot of truth in that. Sometimes we wander out of curiosity. Sometimes we wander because we know where we’re going, we’re just scared. And sometimes we wander just to enjoy the ride. My journey has led me to some incredible people, some have become my dearest friends. I’ve learned a lot about myself and the kind of person I want to be, the kind of photographer I am. I can say with confidence now that I am a children and family portrait photographer but no matter what title you give yourself, at the end of the day it’s about the feeling you get when you look at a picture. The relationships that are immortalized in time. A look, an expression, a smile, a frown. That’s how we’re remembered, and to a loved one, that’s all that really matters.