Family, newborn, couples photographer at lake of the ozarks, missouri

Let me tell you a story. I started my professional life not knowing what I wanted to do for a profession. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biology because it was the only thing I found interest in as a college student. Soonafter and still confused, I left a Master’s program in molecular biology to go back to undergrad for a bachelor’s in nursing. I worked as an RN in labor and delivery for 5 years before the birth of my own first child.

It was at that point that it hit me. Holding his little hands in mine, with his little button nose on his tiny face — this little life is so fragile and so delicate, and the day to day changes were impossible to keep up with and document. How am I supposed to trust myself to try to remember all the details?

I held my my first Nikon DSLR in my hands, and my world changed forever as I made sure his would stay frozen with my camera. I was also growing a business hand painting wedding invitations and painting large format abstract paintings for home decor (some of which have been sold to and are still hanging in local medical office buildings). I taught myself how to use that camera for product photography. But I loved using it to document my now three children. Because the age of crayons and matchbox cars are fleeting. They say music was made to decorate time, and art was made to decorate space. I believe photography was made to decorate our souls.

Because I’m a romantic at heart. A lover of the nostalgic. A little bit salty and a little bit sarcastic. But I can romanticize the hell out of bandaids and knotty hair if you’ll let me.