Living The Dream



As cliché as it sounds, I'm living the dream. It's one I crafted in my head many years ago: seeing faraway lands, having a family, and contributing to society in a way that feels good. There have been plenty of twists and turns along the way, and sometimes I lose sight of where I am and what a beautiful life I have.

Last night, I was reminded of it all. I was at the Coweta County Fair for a group shoot with my VIP27 team, the evening light was gorgeous, and I stopped for a second to take it in. Somehow that moment took me straight back to my younger self and her dreams.

When I was 15, I decided I was going to go to Australia. I didn't know how, but it was going to happen. Fast forward to college, and I ended up studying there for a semester. That one decision, made at 15, landed me where I am today.

The study abroad trip made me realize I had to travel, no matter what. My degree didn't pigeonhole me into one career, so I started thinking about jobs that would let me travel while making some money. Enter the flight attendant career. (I'll shorten this part of the journey for the sake of time!) I loved that job. It was exciting, it was new, and the benefits let me see places I never would have seen otherwise. The downside? I got paid peanuts.

Literally. Peanuts were my lunch many days. I couldn't afford to eat, let alone travel the world.

While I was figuring out my next move (I was going to find a way to work on a super yacht), I met my husband, and the rest is history. I'm lucky that he's a pilot with a major airline, so we've been gifted the opportunity to travel and see places I've always dreamed of.

This post doesn't have much to do with photography, but it's about the dreams we create to build the life we want. I have the privilege of sitting here today and saying I have a darn good life, and I'm so glad that through photography, you're part of it. I've taken photos since I was little, and being able to turn that passion into a business is nothing short of amazing.

Hiker with walking stick navigating a narrow slot canyon with shallow water and red sandstone walls.
Hiker dwarfed by towering red sandstone canyon walls with lush green trees at Zion National Park.
Yellow wildflowers bloom among red sandstone rocks beneath a large tree in a desert canyon landscape at dusk.

This past weekend I took a trip to Zion National Park for my friend's birthday. It was nothing short of amazing! We got to have a grown up trip with hiking, massage, yoga and amazing views. Here are a few highlights. I am 100% going back!!