The Journal
Every story has a beginning, this is mine. This chapter begins where I leave fear behind and choose passion instead.
Here you will find a collection of thoughts, lessons, and reflections along the way. A series of chapters from the life I am building, chasing what sets my soul on fire.
A Father’s Love
September 28, 2025
There are some stories that are too powerful not to share, and this is one of them.
I’ve known him for almost two decades. We spent so much of our twenties together, living in the same dorm. Life took its turns, I ended up dating and marrying his roommate, and through it all, our lives grew in parallel.
Now, years later, when I see him with his girls, I am in awe. He is a single father, and yet what shines most is not the difficulty, but the love. The way he has stepped up, day after day, pouring everything he has into raising them.
It’s not easy to sacrifice your own opportunities, to set aside dreams you might have chased, in order to give your children everything they need. But that’s what he has done. He has persevered through challenges, chosen love over ease, and built a life where his daughters are not only cared for, but deeply cherished.
This photo feels like proof of that. A father and his girls, laughing together in the grass. A simple moment, yet one that carries the weight of years of devotion and sacrifice.
I am proud of him, not just for the father he became, but for the example of resilience and love that his daughters will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Love, Loss, and the Gift of Memory
September 27, 2025
The woods were glowing with autumn light the day I photographed this beautiful family. Golden leaves scattered the ground, their son curiously exploring with a stick in hand, while mom and dad watched with the kind of quiet joy that only parenthood can bring.
For them, this wasn’t just about a fall family session. It was about legacy.
She shared with me something deeply personal, her cousins had recently lost both their parents. In their mid-thirties, they suddenly found themselves orphaned. She, too, had experienced the loss of her father some years ago. He was a man known for his love of bikes and his effortlessly cool spirit, and his memory still lingers in the home videos her parents captured on VHS.
Those tapes are among her most treasured possessions. They hold laughter, voices, and moments that can never be recreated, reminders that though life is fleeting, love can be preserved.
That’s why this session mattered so much. It wasn’t just about a few photographs in the woods; it was about ensuring their love for each other, and especially for their child, would always be remembered. Long after the seasons change, long after they themselves are gone, these images will remain, a testament to their bond, their joy, and the simple beauty of everyday life.
Because life really is short. And when we look back, it’s not the grand staged events we hold most dear, but the in-between moments, the laughter on a forest path, the warmth of a hug, the way a child looks up at their parent. These are the legacies we leave behind.
As a photographer, I am endlessly grateful to help families preserve their stories. To press pause on time, if only for a heartbeat, so that future generations can look back and see proof of love.
A Father’s Love in Action
September 27, 2025
What I see in this photo is more than just playtime on a slide. I see a man who deeply loves his kids. A father whose laughter is genuine, whose joy is tied to theirs, and whose presence speaks volumes.
Life isn’t always simple. He’s navigating change, adapting, moving forward, but what never wavers is the way he shows up for his children. In the gentle way he talks to them, in the way his eyes never leave theirs, in the way he gazes at them with pride and tenderness, these are moments that cannot lie.
That’s the beauty of parenthood: it’s not about perfection, but about presence. It’s about being there, day after day, in the big milestones and the small, ordinary moments.
This image is more than a portrait—it’s a window into love that is steadfast, protective, and true. A love that his kids will always remember, even in the smallest details of their childhood.
The Joy of New Beginnings
September 25, 2025
There is something extraordinary about welcoming a newborn into the world. The air feels softer, quieter, yet somehow fuller, when a tiny life joins a family.
I think of the way newborns instinctively reach out, their delicate fingers curling tightly around yours. That little grip is more than just reflex, it’s trust, it’s connection, it’s their way of saying: I need you. And in that moment, parents often realize just how much they needed this little one, too.
A newborn changes everything. They complete the family in a way that is hard to put into words. The days become centered around their needs, feedings, naps, lullabies. But in the midst of the sleepless nights and soft cries, there is an overwhelming sense of love.
For mothers especially, the bond with their child is something sacred. There’s a rhythm that begins long before birth, one that continues as a baby nestles close, soothed by the familiar sound of a heartbeat. It’s a love woven from patience, devotion, and the quiet comfort of knowing you are each other’s home.
One of the most beautiful joys of these early days is noticing the resemblances that begin to shine through, a familiar expression that looks just like their older brother, the shape of their eyes that mirrors mom, or a little smirk that instantly reminds you of dad. These connections stretch across generations, a living reminder that family is not only love shared in the present, but also love carried forward in the faces and features of those we hold most dear.
These fleeting days are some of the most precious to capture. The way their tiny hands curl around yours. The softness of their features. The glow in the eyes of parents who are discovering the fullness of love in its purest form.
And as I look back at this image, it feels like love captured in its purest form. A tiny hand wrapped tightly around a parent’s finger, simple, yet so powerful. In that small grip lives trust, dependence, and connection. It’s a reminder that in these fragile first days, a baby doesn’t just hold on because they need us… we hold on because we need them, too.
This photograph speaks without words: of tenderness, of protection, and of the unshakable bond between parent and child. At the heart of every new beginning is this, love strong enough to be felt in the smallest of touches.
Newborn photography isn’t just about remembering how small they once were, it’s about preserving the beginning of a lifelong story. A story of love, family, and the joy of new beginnings.
The Memory Keepers
September 24, 2025
So often, when I’m invited to photograph families, I notice something: there are plenty of photos of the children, a few of the family all together, but not nearly enough of moms with their kids.
It’s not because those moments don’t exist, it’s because moms are usually the ones behind the camera. They are the memory keepers. The ones documenting birthdays, first steps, messy faces, quiet snuggles, and everything in between. They photograph it all because they know how quickly it passes, and they want to remember every detail.
That’s why this session felt so special. To turn the camera toward her, to capture the quiet tenderness between mother and baby, was to give her back something she so often gives to everyone else, proof of love. The way she held her little one close, the soft kiss on the forehead, the protective hand cupping those tiny cheeks, those are the moments that deserve to be remembered too.
Her photos aren’t just portraits; they’re a reflection of pride. Pride in her child, pride in her family, pride in the love she carries every single day.
This is the gift of family portraits: giving moms the chance to be in the frame, not just behind it, so that years from now their children can look back and see not only how deeply they were loved, but also who it was that loved them so fully.
Before Three Becomes Four
September 23, 2025
There’s something magical about this in-between season, the quiet anticipation before a family of three grows into a family of four. The leaves had just begun to turn, a reminder of how life itself is always moving forward, always changing, always preparing for what comes next.
This little boy stood close to his mama, arms wrapped around her, forehead pressed against the roundness of her belly. It was more than just curiosity, it was connection. He doesn’t yet fully understand what’s to come, but he feels it. The bond between mother and firstborn is a special one, shaped by the years they’ve shared together, just the two of them, before the world expands.
And in these fleeting moments, there’s so much love to be seen. A mother cherishing her last days with her first baby before she welcomes another. A child unknowingly stepping into the role of older sibling, protector, guide, and lifelong friend.
This is the beauty of family portraits, not just to capture what we see, but to preserve what we feel. The anticipation, the tenderness, the quiet strength in the bond that already exists, and the joy of knowing it’s about to grow even greater.
Soon, they will be four. But right here, right now, this is the story of a mother and her firstborn, holding on to each other in the most beautiful season of waiting.
Trusting the Vision
September 21, 2025
There is something incredibly special about having a friend you’ve known for years step in to support you at the very beginning of your business journey. When she came to me, it wasn’t just about getting new portraits for her brand, it was about trust. She trusted me, my eye, and my growing craft. And with that trust, we created magic.
Through my lens, I wanted to show her the way I see her: beautiful, strong, and deeply feminine. A woman who carries both warmth and power in equal measure. Someone who embodies the essence of a true boss, leading with grace, confidence, and authenticity.
This session was more than just headshots or branding photos. It was about capturing her story and translating her energy into images that reflect who she is and what she stands for. That’s the heart of personal brand photography, it’s not just about how you look, but how your story comes through in every frame.
To me, these photos are a reminder of why I started this journey: to create art that’s personal, meaningful, and empowering. And when it’s with a friend who believed in me from the very start, it becomes all the more unforgettable.
And if you’ve ever tasted her creations, you know they’re more than food. They’re legacy. Her sauces carry the stories of Bogotá, Colombia, her roots, her family, and the traditions passed down through generations. You can find her delicious work at @rolaskitchen613.
A Sacred Bond
September 19, 2025
When we first spoke about this session, the conversation kept circling back to her mother. It was clear that her mom’s presence, and her absence, was the undercurrent of everything on her heart. Through her words, I came to know the depth of that love. Her mom wasn’t just her mom, she was the love of her father’s life, the center of a family built on warmth and devotion.
To grow up in that kind of love is a gift. To carry it forward, even in grief, is both heavy and sacred.
During the shoot, I asked her if her mom had dimples. She smiled softly and said yes. And in that moment, I realized that what I was capturing was more than a mother and child, I was capturing a legacy. Genetics as a reminder of those we have lost, yet who remain with us in quiet, visible ways.
Photographing her with her daughter felt like an honour. These images preserve more than a moment, they preserve the threads of memory and love that connect generations. One day, her daughter will look back at these portraits and see not only how deeply she was adored, but also feel the echo of her grandmother’s love, carried forward in subtle ways, in features, in spirit, in the way love is passed down.
The bond between mother and child is always sacred. But here, it is also a bridge, weaving together past, present, and the enduring truth that love never leaves us.
Reverence in Light and Shadow, where Power and Femininity entwine.
September 16, 2025
This shoot began as a visual experiment, a chance to play with light and shadow, character and emotion.
But somewhere between the first frame and the last, something else took shape.
She wasn’t just a model.
She became the living, breathing embodiment of a character I’ve been conjuring up in my mind.
A warrior. A woman forged in fire, but soft where it counts. Powerful in her femininity. Rooted in instinct.
She doesn’t lead by brute force, she leads by presence.
By knowing.
By being.
This session was more than just a collaboration. It was a creation, of a fully realized female main character who carries both wildness and grace in her eyes. Every look, every tilt of the head, every sliver of light across her face told the story of who she is:
Not one to be saved.
Not one to be softened.
But one who commands the storm and sings in its silence.
Technically, it tested me. I didn’t know how I’d pull it off, navigating dappled light in the forest, trusting natural shadows, relying only on instinct. I usually plan more. But here? I had to let go.
Trust the process.
Trust myself.
And because of that, this shoot became a turning point, a deeper understanding of how to sculpt with light, emotion, and intention.
It’s also one of my most important works to date.
Because it’s not just about the image.
It’s about what it represents:
The birth of a character. The honoring of feminine power. The blurring of story and reality.
And I am so proud to have captured her.
Forest & Reverie: Finding my strength in the trees.
September 15, 2025
It started as an idea that lived in my head, fragments of light cutting through trees, shadows cloaking stories on faces, something raw and cinematic. But when I walked into that forest with my camera slung over my shoulder, I’ll be honest: I had no idea how I was going to pull it off.
The lighting was erratic. The trees swallowed the sun in some places and exploded with highlights in others. I didn't bring strobes or modifiers. Just natural light, fast lenses, and an internal compass I was still learning to trust.
I had this vision, moody, rich, intentional light sculpting each subject, but I didn’t have a formula. What I had was intuition, and a cast of people who believed in my direction even when I was questioning it myself.
This shoot wasn’t just about them trusting me.
It was about me learning to trust me, too.
Every time I hit the shutter, I was experimenting. Adjusting. Searching. Sometimes frustrated. Sometimes thrilled. But as the session unfolded, something clicked, not just technically, but emotionally.
I started seeing the light. Not just where it fell, but how it danced, how it shaped a jawline, carved a silhouette, revealed softness or intensity depending on where I stood. I started chasing those slivers of light the way a painter chases brushstrokes.
By the end of the shoot, I wasn’t the same photographer I was when I entered those woods.
From self-doubt came understanding.
From understanding came power.
And from power came stillness, the kind that says: I know what I’m capable of.
This shoot taught me how to see. Not just through my lens, but through my own self-doubt. And from that, I found my strength.
Ten years of becoming…
September 12, 2025
There’s something quietly poetic about witnessing someone’s growth, not from the center of their life, but from the parallel lanes that run beside it.
Her and I have known each other for over ten years.
Back then, we were different versions of ourselves, both still finding our footing, both a little unsure of the power we held. She stood in front of my camera when I was just starting out, long before I had the gear, the experience, or the skill I carry now.
And yet, she trusted me.
Fast forward a decade.
She walked into my studio again, and in an instant, I was struck by how much we had both changed, and how much of us was still the same.
Her femininity, her quiet strength. That ease in her personality that drops walls the moment she enters. It’s still all there.
But there’s something else now.
A self-assuredness.
A steadiness.
A quiet but unshakable sense of knowing who she is and what she wants. A woman who’s lived, loved, lost, and risen, again and again.
As I photographed her this time, through light and shadow, softness and edge, I felt the echo of who we were, and the deep knowing of who we are now.
The growth isn’t just hers.
Mine too.
That’s the beautiful thing about photography. Sometimes, it’s not just about freezing a moment, it’s about documenting the evolution. Of our bodies. Of our stories. Of our friendship.
This session wasn’t just a photoshoot.
It was a quiet celebration of a decade of becoming.
And I’m so grateful to have witnessed her, then and now. And I’m grateful to have those snapshots frozen in time, not just to witness our personal evolutions, but to trace the growth of my own craft, my eye, my voice as an artist.
The Chapters Written in Wrinkles: Gracie at 91
September 10, 2025
When I sat with Gracie, 91 years old and full of quiet grace, her presence struck me immediately. She carries herself with both warmth and strength, her face etched with the beauty of time.
As we talked, her eyes lit up in a way I’ll never forget. She began telling me about teaching her children to horseback ride, not as teenagers, not even as older kids, but at the tender age of three. In that moment, you could see her transported back, carried away by memories that live deep within her. It was as if the room faded, and she was there again: a young mother, her little ones perched on horses, her heart full.
That spark, that joy in memory, reminded me of one of the most beloved children’s books, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. The story follows a mother caring for her child through every season of life, until time passes and the roles reverse, the son caring for his aging mother. It’s a circle of love that never breaks.
Gracie’s story is just like that. She poured love into her children, filling their lives with experiences and lessons that would stay with them forever. And now, as life has shifted, it’s her daughter Julie, who steps in with care and devotion, not out of duty, but out of the same love that once held her as a child.
What moved me most in photographing Gracie is that this love still radiates. It hasn’t diminished with age; it has only transformed. Looking at her portrait, I don’t just see a woman of 91 years. I see a lifetime of devotion, memory, and tenderness reflected back, a reminder that love, once given, continues to live on through generations.
In the throes of motherhood
September 9, 2025
Today I had the pleasure of photographing my dear friend. She’s in the thick of motherhood, days filled with feeding, soothing, and giving endlessly of herself.
Motherhood has a way of pulling women in every direction, tiny hands tugging, endless needs to meet, pieces of yourself quietly set aside.
Through my lens, I saw her exactly as she is: radiant, strong and undeniably beautiful. Not in spite of the changes that motherhood brought, but because of them. Her smile lit up the room, her eyes carried depth and her presence radiated joy.
When I showed her the photo, her breath caught and said “this is the best photo I’ve seen of myself in a long time”. And in that moment, I saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes, like she finally saw what the rest of us have always seen.
This photograph becomes more than just an image. It is a pause in time, a mirror reflecting back the strength and beauty she carries, even on the days she forgets to see it herself.