In the early 1980s, as a very small child, I found my inspiration in an unexpected place: the women in my life and their cameras.
As a kid growing up during that era with a small town point of view, I noticed that careers for women were limited, but one day I saw a lady working with a camera and thought, that’s what I want to be when I grow up!
One of my first memories of my grandmother was looking through the viewfinder of her Yashica camera. Her eyes would light up as she peered through the viewfinder, framing scenes that told our family stories with her iconic “1-2-3” before pressing the shutter. I remember watching how she held the camera at her waist to view what she was trying to capture.
My mother, who also loved photography, treasured her Pentax camera. She had a great eye for light and color and I have so many priceless images of my childhood because of her. Whether it was a family holiday gathering or us outside in the yard, she was always behind the Pentax turning then ordinary scenes into my now extraordinary memories.
But it wasn’t just the women in my family who inspired me. Whenever I attended events around town during my early childhood years, there was always a well-dressed, professional lady with a camera and a pleasant smile. She was a photographer for our local newspaper, and she also seemed so happy with her camera that it left a lasting impression on me.
Discovering that photography could be a profession was a light bulb moment. The idea that I could use photography to tell stories, capture memories, and make a living from it filled me with a sense of excitement. I set my sights on becoming the lady behind the camera.
Over the years, I honed my photography skills, and studied the art of it all. I learned how lighting makes the mood of the photo, composition is everything, and storytelling through images is what makes them interesting.
Today, I proudly carry the title of “The Lady Behind the Camera” in both my career and my community. I’ve spent my lifetime capturing the world through pictures.
Just last nightI photographed the 8th graders at our school for volleyball recognition and I realized that among that group I had taken 4 of their newborn photos and now they are all grown up.
As I continue to use my camera, my favorite part is the relationships I build with the people in front of my camera and the memories I get to help them preserve.
The ladies who came before me paved the way, and I have been blessed to keep the shutter snapping. Through photography, I have become a storyteller, a memory keeper, and a witness to the lives of so many amazing people!
Keep creating everyday,
Create Everyday 