Where It All Began

i didn't "just know" that i wanted to be a photographer. i've always liked to do lots of things. over the years i've wanted to write novels, play the piano, dance on stage with janet jackson, and work in a fancy new york pr firm. later, as a journalism student at my favorite university on the planet, i was fortunate enough to take a trip across the ocean and spent 5 weeks in florence, italy. i took my first art classes there just for fun, and one of those happened to be photography. i fell in love.

i returned to chapel hill in a panic. i was working toward the wrong degree, i thought. i was supposed to be an art student. i was supposed to be a photographer. public relations?! what was i doing? in the end i opted to continue with my pr degree. after all, i needed a real job.

it took me nearly 3 years to figure it out.

there i was, running with the big dogs and working my way up that slippery corporate ladder when again - just for fun - i offered to take a few engagement photos for some friends on the beach. we had a blast that afternoon and without even really trying, came home with a gorgeous set of fun, sweet, real portraits that didn't just document the soon-to-be-married couple...they showed who they really are.

that afternoon in the middle of a shot, i looked over to my left and saw a family walking down the beach with a professional photographer. oh yeah, this is a real job. at that moment i knew that i had to make it happen. life is too short not to give it a shot.