I’m often asked the question: how did you get into photography? Well in this post, I’m going to answer that question and give you the story of how I became a photographer, even if that wasn’t my original plan!

My photography journey started in college, but I didn’t really know it at the time. I studied graphic design and environmental science but didn’t touch a camera until after I graduated. However, those graphic design skills and interest in the environment would come together later in my life in the form of photography. 

After college, I took an internship at a state park in Delaware as a naturalist. Before my internship started, I decided to buy my first DSLR camera because I thought it would be fun to take photos of the park and the landscapes. I quickly fell in love with both the park and photography. Pretty soon, I started taking photos of the programs and events that I was leading as part of my internship. Then I asked my supervisor if I could start an Instagram for the park. He said no, but he said I could help with the Facebook page. A few weeks later, I fully took over management of the park’s Facebook page, and started posting the photos that I took.

This is the first photo of mine that was posted on the park’s Facebook page. I was so excited, and it got lots of likes!

When my internship ended, I was offered a job in the central office marketing department for the entire state park system in Delaware. Soon, I was managing all social media for all of Delaware State Parks. I also started doing a lot of the photography for the state park system, and photographed landscapes, programs, events, people, staff, and staged marketing shoots. 

As part of my job, I was in charge of marketing the wedding venues within the state parks. I started planning and photographing staged wedding shoots all over the state. 

Then, people started asking me to take their photos outside of work, and it was around this time that I started my own photography business. I photographed my first real wedding in 2017 and because I love the outdoors so much, I decided to focus on outdoor weddings. I stayed with the state park system for 5.5 years total, and while I started as an intern, I left as Chief of Marketing and Creative. You can read more about my journey from intern to marketing director in this post.

In November of 2021, I moved to Boulder, Colorado and decided to pursue my photography business full-time. It’s been one year of being a full-time photographer, and I love it. I’ve photographed weddings and elopements all over Colorado, the country, and even internationally. Outside of weddings, I’ve worked with clients including Stio, Girlfriend Collective, The North Face, AllTrails, Kent County Tourism, Dakine, and more.

Photography has truly changed my life. It’s led me to so many incredible experiences, challenged me as an artist and businesswoman, taken me all over the world, given me a deeper appreciation for nature, and allowed me to meet so many amazing people.