I remember the day I got my first DSLR. I was 18 and my parents were dropping me off at college. I’d picked a university out of state and so before my parents left, they took me out shopping to stock my groceries and any school supplies I might need. One of the first classes I’d been excited to sign up for was an intro to photography course. I was originally an English major but I’d always loved taking photos with my point-and-shoot and I was so excited when that entry-level Canon DSLR was in my hands. 

Fast forward almost a decade later and I still remember every detail of that trip to the store. Picking out the camera, charging the battery the moment I got to our hotel, and taking crappy photos in our little room that night. Little did I know that a partnership would form between myself and that camera (and other cameras down the line). That camera led me to my career. 

Not only do I get do so many fun photoshoots for clients, friends, and family, I get to take beautiful photos of my own little family. 2020 gave the world some tough times. It was one of the hardest years of my life even without the pandemic added in. But it was also probably the best year of my life so far. I welcome a beautiful daughter in the spring of 2020. Stores, restaurants, and anything non-essential was closed down in my city in May.  I didn’t have a real baby shower (although my virtual shower was wonderful and I loved it), my family didn’t meet my baby until weeks after she was born, and this sweet girl still hasn’t met some of my closest friends or been held by her great-grandparents. 

But one of the few things I didn’t have to give up or compromise on was her newborn photos. Of course, I would have loved to not take the photos myself – I was exhausted! But because of that camera and that first intro to photography class, I was able to take some beautiful photos of my sweet girl and our first days together as a family.