What Photography Really Means to Me

Why I Never Chose Commercial Work

Last week, I shared a little bit about why I never chose the path of commercial work — how my creativity has always been tied to connection and the people behind the stories.

I’ve been thinking more about that, and I wanted to talk more about the concept of candid family photography and why that means so much to me, and what I hope others take away from it, too.

What Family Photography Really Means to Me

I love photographing what happens in the everyday life of a family. There are times when taking a photo requires a matching color scheme and a beautiful backdrop, but I think we miss the value in what we do every day with our families. Those photos of grandma’s hands knitting, or dad leaning over to help with homework.

When I look back on photos from the past, the ones I love the most are the ones that no one planned out. They were the ones that benefitted from a camera lying on the table, ready to be used.

The Value of Everyday, Unplanned Moments

Photography has always been deeply meaningful to me — not just because of the art itself, but because of what it allows me to see.

I love helping people bring that side of themselves into their story — showing not just what they do, but who they are and what their life looks like behind it.

Just recently, I photographed a family in Michigan, and it reminded me again why I love this work so much. It was relaxed and low-key — I just sat with them all day and photographed what they feel, how they smile, and what takes up their time. Those unplanned moments say so much about a family.

And it’s not always about business either. Sometimes people hire me simply because they want to capture their family as they are right now — the stage they’re in, the life they’ve built — before it changes.

Photography Beyond the Technical Skills

When I teach or talk about photography, I’m not really focused on the technical side. The camera settings, light, and composition all matter — but they’re just the tools. What I want to share goes deeper than that. I want to help people understand why photography means so much — how it can open your eyes to what’s right in front of you and help you connect with it in a more human way.

Seeing the Essence of a Family

For me, that’s what every session is about: seeing the essence in a person, a family, or a moment, and trying to translate that through the camera.

Adding words has become part of that process too — it lets me bring people into the scene and help them feel what I see, not just look at it.

Giving People What They Need to See

What I really hope to teach is how to give people not just what they want, but what they need. And I think what most people need today is to truly be seen — to be reflected back to themselves in a way that reminds them of who they are.

The Shift in Connection Since COVID

Since COVID, we’ve all had fewer face-to-face connections. So when I show up with my camera, my goal is to connect — to meet people where they are, to hold space for them, and to mirror back that deep, beautiful part of themselves that I see. If I can do that, I’ve done my job.

Humans are wired for connection. We live in a space of love when we’re aligned with who we really are — and that’s the love I want to show through my work.

Loving People Through the Lens

When I’m working with someone who struggles with self-love, I try to love them through the lens — showing them back the beauty I see, the strength that maybe they’ve forgotten.

Photographing Montana and Why It Moves Me

When I photograph the Montana landscape, emotion comes easily. Living here has always felt like a dream realized — something I longed for long before I knew I’d lost it. I’m in love with the land and with the people who’ve grown up here, who’ve weathered everything Montana has thrown at them.

All I want is to reflect that in my images.

Preserving Stories for Future Generations

Each moment is something we’ll never get back. The only way to preserve it is through words or a camera.

When we die, it all goes with us. But when we take photos or write things down, we leave behind an essence for future generations — something they can connect with, so they know where they came from and what mattered to those before them. It reminds them, and me, of what’s meaningful when life feels uncertain.

It’s Not About the Camera Settings

So no, I’m not here just to teach about camera settings. The settings and light are only part of it. What matters most is learning to connect with what’s in front of you — and to let that connection guide what you create.

If you can do that, you’re not just taking photos — you’re creating something that represents what you feel in your heart.

P.S. A Note for You

Whether you’re behind the camera or in front of it, I hope this reminds you that your story — and the way you see the world — is worth documenting.