Finally Free

When I was a student at the Art Institute, I took an editorial photography class that ended up changing everything for me.

Our final projects were assigned—no choosing, just trust the process.
My assignment?
Photograph women in beautiful gowns, in beautiful locations.

At first, I was overwhelmed.
There was so much I didn’t know—how to pose women, how to work with unpredictable light outdoors, how to make it all feel as beautiful as I wanted it to look.

But instead of shrinking back, I leaned in.

I studied posing books, watched tutorials, and threw myself into learning off-camera lighting. I was taking a location lighting class at the same time, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I was learning to shape light outside with flash, reflectors, and portable gear—all while creating work for my final.

And that’s where it started.
My love for shooting on location.
My love for working one-on-one with women.
My love for telling a story through setting, light, and expression.

Since then, I’ve spent countless hours driving backroads just to find those perfect spots—tucked-away rivers, wild meadows, moss-covered trees, or the curve of a shoreline that catches the light just right.

And what keeps me coming back is this:
Seeing women step into themselves in front of my lens.
Watching their confidence grow when they see how beautiful, powerful, and radiant they truly are.

That’s what these images mean to me.
They began as an assignment.
They became a calling.