Every superhero has an origin story and I really think that every photographer does as well! We all have a reason that we became a photographer and a path that led us here, so here is mine!

When I was young I would spend hours sitting on the floor looking through the stacks of National Geographic magazines that my parents had. I have memories of “reading” them before I could even read. I loved looking at the photos, I found they were a way to be transported to a time and place that you’ve never been to. My time spent with these magazines shaped my life in a way I never imagined. My love of the environment, history and (not-surprisingly) photography were formed as a result of my love for that magazine. And I always dreamed of becoming a National Geographic photographer.

At home, my mom was always taking photos. I was just young (we are talking about the days of film photography) when she handed me her Canon AE-1 camera for the first time to take my very first photograph. It wasn’t long after that I was given a small point and shoot camera from Black’s. And with that I took photos of everything – my parents must have spent a small fortune buying and developing film for me! When my mom upgraded her camera, I was given that very same Canon AE-1 that I took my first photo with. As soon as I was old enough, I was taking night school photography classes and experimenting with different films and techniques. 

After deciding that a degree in History wasn’t for me (thankfully only after one year) I ended up studying Art and Design to get a handle on what makes a great composition for an image. I also had a chance to get my feet wet in the darkroom while taking night school photography classes at Ryerson. And let me tell you – I LOVED working in the darkroom and spent a lot of time processing my own film and developing my own prints! After building my portfolio I was accepted into the Creative Photography program at Humber College. At Humber, I learned everything from the history of photography, studio lighting, printing, and sooooo much more. I really loved it there, I made some great friends and met some very talented photographers.

I spent a lot of time shooting bands, live music, and portraits, with the occasional wedding. I left school with the intention of becoming a food photographer… as you can see that didn’t pan out. That is because I started shooting more couples and weddings and really just fell in love with it. I really thought wedding photography would be the last type of photography I would settle into. But I realized that I loved seeing people in love and I love being the one to capture that love and preserve those memories for a lifetime. 

I haven’t given up on my dream to become a National Geographic photographer. I lost sight for a while, but my passion for it grows every day. And I really love to infuse my couple photography with that fun, adventurous style.