Ashley has a way of making a room full of strangers feel like dinner with friends, and that's a big part of why I started this series. Sharing the love is my way of celebrating the business owners I get to photograph, and Ashley is so deserving of the spotlight! Our session together we laughed, we twirled, we sparkled (since thats kinda her WHOLE thing)! The Sparkle Entrepreneur Network Ashley is the founder of the Sparkle Entrepreneur Network, a Calgary community for female

Posing tips for people that don't feel super comfy infront of the camera If that voice lives in your head too, the one that says I have no idea what I'm doing in front of a camera, this post is for you. Clients tell me some version of it in the first five minutes of nearly every session: “I’m so awkward.” “I never know what to do with my hands.” “I just don’t photograph well.” Usually there’s a laugh attached, and a small apology, as if they’ve confessed something unforgivabl

Understanding the Feeling of Being "Unphotogenic" I get it. You probably made it this far avoiding photos like the plauge and coming up with any number of excuses that people don't even question. "I'm just not photogenic" is such a good statement to stop people from pressing anymore or asking any more questions. It's the leave me alone answer. The I don't want to talk about it anymore answer. Well, guess what...I DO want to talk about it. So many people express feeling unpho

The Importance of Loving Yourself at Every Stage, Phase, and Size in Life In a world dominated by social media and carefully curated images, it's easy to fall into the trap of self-criticism and comparison. For years, I found myself deleting more photos of myself than I kept, believing that if I didn’t see them, I wouldn’t have to confront the insecurities they stirred within me. "My hair looks weird" "That's not the right angle" "That gave me a double chin" "I knew that outf

I get asked this question a lot and I always feel like the short answer doesn't quite do it justice. So here's the full honest version. The short version first. I shoot everything except weddings and babies. I know that's a little bit of an unusual thing to lead with but I'd rather be upfront about it than have someone reach out hoping I'm available for their wedding day. I'm not the right fit for that and I'd rather point you toward someone who is than waste your time. Every

I use this phrase a lot. Safe space. Inclusive environment. A place where everyone is welcome. And I mean every single word of it but I also think it deserves more than just a line in a bio or a hashtag at the bottom of a post. So let me tell you what it actually means when I show up for you. First, a confession. I am a photographer and I still get nervous being on the other side of a camera. I know what it feels like to hold your breath right before the shutter clicks. I kno

Your Kids Are Going to Melt Down and Your Dog Is Going to Lose Its Mind. Here's Why That's Completely Fine. Let me paint you a picture. You've been looking forward to your family session for weeks. You've picked the outfits, you've chosen the location, you've mentally prepared everyone involved. And then the morning of, your toddler decides that today is the day they are absolutely not cooperating with anything, your dog has apparently forgotten every single thing they've eve

I hear this one constantly. It comes up in DMs, in discovery calls, in casual conversations when someone finds out what I do for a living. Someone will ask about booking a session and then immediately follow it up with some version of "I just don't think I photograph well" or "the camera hates me" or "I always look so awkward in photos." I want to talk about this because I think it's one of the most common things holding people back from having photos of themselves that they

When people start thinking about where to shoot their session, the conversation usually goes one of two ways. Either they have no idea and feel overwhelmed by the options, or they've already decided on the most scenic spot in the city because it looks great on Instagram. Both are totally valid starting points. But I want to offer a different way of thinking about it — because the location that makes the best photos isn't always the one with the most obvious wow factor. Locati

I have been asked this question more times than I can count and I will never get tired of it because honestly it's a great question and the answer matters more than people think. What you wear to your session affects how you feel in your session. And how you feel in your session affects every single photo. So let's talk about it properly. The only rule that actually matters. Wear something you would actually put on on a normal Saturday. That's it. That's the foundation everyt

I think there's a version of a photo session that lives in a lot of people's heads. A photographer barking directions, a lot of awkward standing around, someone telling you to angle your chin down and to the left while you try to look natural and failing completely. That is not what happens when you book with me. Not even close. Let me walk you through what it actually looks like. First, we just hang out. I mean this literally. When we first get together I am not immediately

I hear this one a lot. More than almost anything else. Someone will reach out, we'll have a great conversation, and then right before they commit they say some version of it: "I just want to lose a little weight first." Or I'll be at an event and somebody will lean in after I took their photo and say "you can work your magic and take 10 or 20 pounds off right?" I get it. I really do. Being in front of a camera is vulnerable.

If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you’ve seen the headlines. AI can now generate "perfect" portraits of people who don’t exist, swap out a cloudy sky for a sunset in three seconds, and even write a halfway decent caption for your Instagram post. Everybody is putting themselves in one of a thousand new trends and getting AI to generate them as a cartoon, riding a unicorn with a six pack. As a photographer, I get asked about this a lot. Usually, it’s some version

I am so glad we’re doing this! I know that being in front of a camera can feel a little vulnerable, but my goal is for you to forget I’m even there. We aren't here to create a "perfect" version of your life; we’re here to capture the honest, beautiful reality of it. I've put together a quick little list to help ease your mind and getting you feeling super prepared for our time together! 1. The ultimate burning question: what should I wear? Forget the matching white t-shirts

How I work to create safe and inclusive spaces for all of my clients We’ve all been there—the split second before the shutter clicks when you instinctively hold your breath, stiffen your shoulders, and put on your "camera face." It’s a defense mechanism. Being photographed is an act of vulnerability, and for many of us, showing up as our raw, unfiltered selves feels a lot like standing on stage to perform a monologue for the first time without a script. If you’ve been searchi

Photography has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s not just a hobby or something I do to pay the bills; it’s a thread woven through my family history and personal experiences. This post is a little peek into how my journey shaped who I am today and why I am passionate about capturing moments through my lens. Early Exposure to Photography in My Family Growing up, cameras were always within reach. My parents never missed a chance to capture not only the

For a long time, I thought my job as a photographer was to be a curator of utmost perfection. I thought it was about finding the ideal light, correcting the pose, and delivering a set number of "flawless" digital files.But the more time I spent behind the lens, the more I realized that perfection is actually the least interesting thing about us and honestly makes for a lot of boring images. I mean who really wants to scroll through another friend/family members facebook post