My journey started in 2015. It's the "old and told" story of a yearbook kid who falls in love with their camera, fueled by their inspiring, dad-like teacher. You know that story. Well, at least you can infer the jist of it.

Fast-forward to the winter of 2018, I was deciding the future of my photography career. Was I going to assist someone else for a while? Start my own thing? Ditch it entirely? It was with encouragement from Javier that I gave the photography thing a try on my own.

Three years into the craft, I am so excited to turn a new page. In 2022, I want to become more than a photographer. As mentioned, I love shooting with purpose. I feel that a photographer's purpose goes beyond photo duties. I strive to grow my relationship with my clients, balancing the humanness of the job with the documentation.

With this, I thank all my clients who have enabled me to turn the "photography thing" into my life's passion. Cheers to 2022!

Javier and I are high school sweethearts, together for 3.5 years now. We met freshman year of high school, and believe it or not, we did not immediately hit it off. However, in junior year, we began to develop a liking for each other and the rest is history. Of the two, I am the funny one, balancing out Javier's role as the hot one. It's funny that our initials are D & J, speaking as he is a DJ. We love that our jobs sometimes intertwine, giving opportunity for us to do what we do best: work together.

Now for the fun part...

More than Photography

1.

I have a love-hate relationship with singing. With all art, people have preferences. I've grown toughened skin to handle criticism regarding photography , but singing is something I'd like to hold more privately. There is something wonderful about preserving an art for yourself that makes it more magical. Maybe, just maybe, if I rent a karaoke room with some friends, I'll sing my go-to duet: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart."

Singing

2.

Since I was very little, "dress up" has been a significant part of my life. My favorite part of dressing up - whether in costume or in more formal attire - is feeling how a combination of clothing and accessories can transform your character. I mean, that's what we do on Halloween, right? We stray from our "normal" wares to adopt the looks and personalities of adored characters. For me, fashion has enabled me to become a chameleon, changing my looks to either blend in or show off. I'd love to know, what does fashion fulfill for you?

Costumes / Fashion

3.

I turn to entertainment for relief, an escape. My favorite genre is Rom-Coms, and despite what you say, they'll always be my favorite. Though no Rom-Com could ever come close to beating the makings of Hayao Miyazaki. As a kid, My Neighbor Totoro became a classic I never got tired of. But, it became lost in memory. As life grew busier, my consumption of entertainment dwindled and my recollection of Studio Ghibli's faded. Only recently have I rewatched Totoro, and I became reminded of why I fell in love with animation and his storytelling. My favorite movie has become "Whisper of the Heart," but who's to say my mind won't change after I finish watching all of his movies.

Entertainment

4.

Yes, I am a notorious gamer, fueled by my competitive spirit. I like to think that I can pick up on any game quick, but Javier's introduction of first-person shooter games makes me think different. But, if you're up for a buddy to play Animal Crossing with or someone to set you straight about your Mario Kart skills, let me know. My Switch friend code is "SW-3722-9960-1510" if you want to add me.

Gaming