Mr. Rodgers

I've had stories and ideas floating in my brain for months, but if I'm being really honest, its more like years. I've always loved hearing the stories of other people lives. Everyone I've encountered has had their own specific story. We're all living on this same planet and (for most of the people I photograph) we even live in the same city. These people going to all the places I frequent, driving the same routes to work, watching the same shows and listening to the same music. We have all these basic things in common and yet our stories are so unique. 

This is Billy. His story is a story I'm grateful to have heard. 
And now I get to document it. 

OKC exploration

My mind is always in a state of searching. Searching for light, a story, an emotion. Searching for inspiration, glimpses of mystery, shadows of the unknown. 
And I always let myself believe that in order to go on a true adventure, I need to travel a significant distance. I'm always so certain that these things I'm searching for are so far away and unknown. I never think about the little adventures I find my self in, almost everyday. So finally after finding myself on new roads, and feeling inspired, I decided to take my camera with me and explore my own back yard, and down the street! And I believe I will make this a regular thing. 

Self-Portrait

Growing up I would stay up late at night creating elaborate characters and stories, dressing myself up in anything I could find in my closet and I would create photographs. Always dramatic, always expressing, and always carefree. As an adult I find it hard to re-create these stories with out the worry of doing something wrong. I've found it harder to focus on the story because my mind is weighed down with doubt and fear. Is it just the fear of doing something wrong? I think its something more then that, its the fear of being wrong. Its the fear that what I have to express and the way I want to express it isn't good enough. 

So this is the wall I'm faced with, as an adult, and artist. I wake up, almost every sing day, with the desire to express. When I go days or weeks at a time with out creating something that expresses myself, I feel it start to build in my chest and fog my mind. People in school especially, would ask why I like to take self-portraits. I try to explain the rush I get when I look at a photo I've created both as the artist and the subject and I see the exact emotion I was attempting to express. 

Self-portraits are the greatest form of rebellion in a society that teaches us to hate ourselves. 

Amanda&Evan

I really hope I never accidentally delete my blog again! Prepare to be spammed with cute couple pictures! 

Amanda and Evan were so much fun to shoot. Laid back, naturally playful, and spunky, I enjoyed our adventure into the woods one fall afternoon. I look forward to shooting their wedding this spring! 

Kayley&Billy

I've been honored to watch these two humans make this crazy journey. They've both had major impacts on multiple parts of my life. I hope by capturing these moments for them, I have given them something they will cherish.