Why photography? Why videography? Why produce these types of digital content? Everyone has seen a picture and said, "wow what a beautiful photo!", but rarely has someone seen a picture of themselves and said, "wow I look beautiful!" I realized that, as a photographer, I had the power to remedy this. As my photography skills improved and i could truly capture this beauty that i saw, I started focusing more on portrait photography. now, humans are nearly my only subject matter. the stories and emotions behind each person-- what makes them who they are-- drives my work. i want to capture the beauty, the grit, the passion of the person that is in front of my lens. branching into videography in the last couple of years only further expands on my ability to capture these stories. i want people to see themselves how their loved ones view them, with pride and kindness.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I create art through a lens because I believe in the wonder that is humanity. I am drawn to the narrative of the human experience. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and happy in how they are perceived by the world. Everyone’s story deserves to be told—their aspirations, their fears, their emotions, the things that make people unique. These parts of life should not be hidden but embraced and broadcasted, shouted to the heavens, with no apologies. I am a woman, having gone through all the awkward preteen stages, questionable fashion choices, and unfortunate relationships that come with that territory. I have asked, will they like me?, am I too loud?, and why can’t I be beautiful like her? more times than I can count. Through these experiences, I have discovered who I am—although I still question it at times. I am a collegiate athlete, photographer, daughter, sister, adventurer, philomath. But most importantly, I am me. My self-portrait projects have taught me how to express these facets of myself to my audience looking from the other side of the lens.
I understand the fear and nervousness that come with being in front of the camera—the pressure to get every pose and facial expression just right. But I find beauty in what others might call “imperfections.” My work features humans because I want to reframe these so-called flaws and reveal each person’s beauty and inherent individuality. I explore themes of confidence, societal pressures, grief, and perseverance, striving to showcase the true essence of the person who stands before me. Sometimes I walk into a shoot knowing exactly what theme or image I want to showcase while other times the shoot develops on its own. One notable shoot started with the singular idea of “finding blue items and romanticizing them with a beautiful image.” This shoot took my subject and me through department stores, gas stations, and fast food restaurants—morphing into such an astounding editorial shoot over seven hours long with beautiful commentary about life between shots.
My work is evolving. What once consisted of commercial, technically precise, straight forward sports shots and portraits is now transforming into deeper projects. I am exploring more abstract themes and mediums to express the many facets of my subjects. This allows my work to not only be a ‘pretty picture’ but also express ideas that can be universally felt and understood. By combining my photography with other mediums, I explore interactive compositions and installations that further confront the realities of beauty ideals and these universal themes. I am also exploring the idea of portraying a person without actually including the person in the final images—this facilitates a deeper connection to my subject and a further exploration of their identity, interests, and passions. I want to continue with this deeper, meaningful artmaking. It gives my work a reason: honoring the complexity of the human experience, celebrating individuality, and revealing the quiet beauty that is often overlooked. Through my lens, I will create a space where vulnerability is power, imperfection is art, and everyone’s story is worthy of being told.