I have been seriously “into” photography since high school way back in 1991-1992.  My first camera was a Pentax K1000 that my mom scraped to buy and I still have.  I spend my high school days in the darkroom soaking up the smell of fixer and toner as the school’s yearbook and newspaper photographer.
When I needed art credits in college (I cannot draw to save my life!)  I turned to photography and it was there that I found my love of photographing children.  Children have the most intriguing expressions that change as fast as the wind and I found the challenge of capturing those expressions invigorating.   I couldn’t wait to get into the darkroom to see what I had gotten. Some of my favorites I still have from those first classes- the one that comes to mind, is an image I took of a first grader with no front teeth and pigtails giving me the biggest grin of her life! You can immediately tell how proud she is to be toothless.  Everytime I think of that photo I giggle.  That was over 15 years ago and the photo is tucked away in an old art portfolio but it is always fresh in my memory.  It is my hope to create a family experience that is relaxed enough that you will be remembering it for the next 20 years.  I am a full time middle school teacher (enough said) and a Mom to two little blessings- Ham (3) and G (1.5) and I also have a wonderful husband who works way too hard and tolerates my photography “habit” as long as he’s not in the photo!  Finally, I thank the Lord for helping me through some very tough times so I could appreciate these blessings everyday!