I've spent my life in the Fraser Valley; my childhood in Mission B.C with my two younger sisters and Mom & Dad, and later moving to Abbotsford. I have always marveled at the beauty of the world; and this was evident to my parents through the incredible images I was producing, even with low quality equipment and at such a young age. I felt deeply, experiencing even the minutiae of the day in wonderment. Though often a gift, I did find this profound connection to the people and moments around me particularly difficult when I lost my father at just 9 years old. My parents having divorced when I was 3, meant that I did not have a lot in the way of tangible memorabilia when he passed; and though losing him had been a gutting experience, what tortured me was when I began to forget. What he looked like. What he sounded like. I found myself scrambling to find anything left of him to hold onto. In the end, what was left were a few torn and wrinkled photographs, and within those photographs, peace. Those photographs showed that everything was okay, even if it was just for a moment. They were authentically him. The best part about the photos though, is that they never changed, even when the people in them did. They connected us, an otherworldly thread to the past; keeping him with me in the present.

With the loss of my dad, my grandfather really became a father figure to me. He unfortunately passed away last year. Near the end when his dementia was bad, he began to forget us. I would bring him photographs; and as they had done for me and the waning memory of my father, those photographs brought us back to him, and him back to us. Even if it was for just a short time, it was more time.

***

My parents saw my love of and eye for any picture opportunity, and for my 16th birthday they bought me a Nikon DSLR kit that for 14 years, never left my side. I even wrote in my high school yearbook “most likely to be a photographer”. Despite this, I focused on academics, namely Biology and Chemistry, determined to become a nurse. All through University however, I was hit with setback after setback, hardship after hardship; and eventually, I decided to take a break. I could not be more grateful for those hardships now, because without them I might never have gotten up the courage to pursue my true calling. Just when things were getting rough, my aunt surprised me with something my late father had left for me - a Minolta camera. I didn’t need much more than to know what I should be doing with my life, and the rest just fell into place.

I got into nursing because I wanted to help people and improve the quality of their lives; but now I get to experience beautiful moments with them. I get to create images and art, freezing moments in time that would otherwise be gone forever; impossible to reproduce. And I don’t think there is any better or more rewarding job than that.

Ten years later, my husband Clayton and I now live in Chilliwack B.C with our two young children Alaira & Axton, and our cat Meeka, our dog Ranger, and your bunny Olive. We are mere minutes away from lakes, mountains, lush forests, and the most amazing views B.C has to offer. When I’m not out shooting and traveling, I am in my home office with a view of our quiet neighbourhood; and of course, the Minolta camera on the shelf, reminding me why I started.

In the 14 years since my first real camera, I have grown from editing on Picnic with tacky graphics, to doing my first weddings, photographing catalogues for local businesses and restaurants, hosting events, and editing clients in Lightroom & Photoshop with breathtaking galleries. My growth hasn’t and won’t be stopping there, either. My talent is reputable and I guarantee you’ll leave your session with beautiful images, laughing pains, & an unforgettable experience that you'll be able to look back on and treasure for always.