My why didn’t really hit me early on. All I knew was that God wanted to take me on a journey with photography. I never believed I’d want to photograph people. That was something that was just way too out of my comfort zone. I thought I’d rather stick to landscapes where nobody would bother me. Just me, myself, and nature. 

Three years ago, I was convicted during a sermon about using your gifts for God’s glory. I was convinced to stop leaving my $1000+ camera lying around. I started taking photos with friends because they accepted my awkwardness and the learning curve I was on. Then later down the line, I started charging a small amount for my work.

Throwing it back to last year, I knew was not only what I wanted to do, but what I had to do. I also knew if I wanted to focus on this and put my all into it, I had to quit my job to do pursue photography full-time. What would my parents say? Am I supposed to have a career and stay there until I retire? I should have enough money saved up to buy a house and raise a family, right? What will people think of my decision? Photography? Full-time?? I could hear the voices in my head saying “You won’t make any money doing that! What are you thinking?” 

All the noise was overwhelming to process. However, after an anniversary shoot of a couple that found me on Instagram from Kansas visiting Vegas, I knew where my heart needed to go. The heartfelt conversations with them, having such a smooth shoot and helping them capture such beautiful moments solidified my decision. This was what it was all about. This is how I live life and this is how I use photography as a tool. Reflecting back on it all, photography has brought me so many new friends and has me grown in ways I would’ve never anticipated. 

My new motto is: WHAT. IS. LIFE?