I, adventurous little me, have hopes and dreams to travel the world with my son, Davian, with our cameras in hand. I sing a little song and do a little dance when I take a deep breath and the smells of different foods emerge into my nose while the spices cause my taste buds to party. Experiencing diverse cultures awakens my soul, opens my heart, and inspires me to see life from a different perspective. Exploring the world feeds my need for physical challenges. There is no feeling like hiking up a mountain, feeling the burn build up in my legs as I take each daring step through the leaf covered ground or the loose slick rocks to reach the serene view at the top and feel the wind brush my hair.

One of my hiking buddies is Vanessa, my best friend of almost TWENTY-FIVE years. (Wow! Twenty-five years?! Insert surprised emoji here!) One day, she asked me to shoot a wedding with her. The day of the wedding my nerves were flowing, my stomach was in knots and my hands were clammy! I had only photographed a handful of weddings before so I was unsure of myself. I didn’t think I was good enough. The next wedding we photographed together was that of our darling friends, Tom and Hiromi. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where I was hooked! I felt their unconditional love! I saw their unique story! I recognized the importance and the greatness of documenting the day someone marries their soul mate! These cherished moments come and go but through photography, they can be relived. Not only by the couple, but also, by friends and family, and most precious of all, their children and grandchildren!

Fast forward to two years later… Wedding days still make my heart jump out of my skin, my nerves keep me jittery, and my stomach does back flips. On the bright side, my hands don’t get clammy anymore! Thank goodness!! However, it’s not because I think I’m not good enough! It’s because I understand the magnitude of the day and because I am chasing my dream of being a wedding photographer.

Put on those yoga pants and comfy socks and stick around! Not only, will I share my story, my growth and weddings with you, but also, tips, tricks, and how-to’s for photographers and brides to be!