As a portrait photographer, I realized how many people felt insecure or dreaded being in front of the camera. Determined to change this, I create unique photoshoot experiences that promote positive self-perception through body mindful posing techniques and welcoming photoshoot environments personalized to each client. It’s incredible to witness the magical shift that occurs when someone who walked in feeling scared can now walk out with newfound confidence and self-appreciation. These experiences have not only boosted their personal confidence but have also sparked the courage to embrace their authenticity and to even launch their own brands.

As a brand photographer, I also provided advice to my clients on how they can effectively use their photographs from our sessions to promote their brand that aligns with themselves and their unique story authentically.

This love for uplifting other entrepreneurs and uplifting others led me to notice how many photographers and fellow creatives were disheartened and lacked inspiration in a culture that tore each other down instead of lifting one another up. Feeling a strong urge to support my creative community, regardless of immediate financial gain, I launched the “Eat Like an Artist” podcast in April 2023. As the host, I interview inspiring local creatives, who I have worked with and love supporting, every week to break down the starving artist stereotype and share actionable tips on staying creatively inspired, business-savvy, and wellness-focused. With less than 20 episodes out by the time of this interview (so far), I have already had local creatives message me about how the episodes have, for example, provided them a starting point on how to charge their creatives services or reminded them that it is okay to fail and try again. Although this is in its beginning stages, there is so much potential for growth.

The journey started in college where I learned photography in order to fulfill my role as the publicity chair of my dance crew. Many practice photoshoots, graduation sessions, and educational videos/courses later, I turned my photography hobby into my full-time business/career. The exact “how” is a really long story of repetition, routine, reaching out to collaborators/mentors, failures, triumphs, etc. Through every step of the process, however, the “why” was always the same, even though I never planned to become a business owner. Even if I decided to keep photography as a hobby, the reason why I went into it and continue at it will always be the same.

For a long time, I was set on my pre-med track because I had a narrow view of what it meant to help people, which I thought was exclusive to the healthcare field. While pursuing the pre-med track, I found photography as a tool to help market the collegiate dance crew I was a part of and thought nothing more of it. Even when I kept switching majors, I was always bad at the classes for accounting, economics, business, you name it. Fast forward to 2020, I graduated college without any interest in medical school and hopped from one job to another. All the jobs I worked in did not care about their worker’s well-being (except for one job I had in college). One job in particular fostered such a toxic work environment that I had panic attacks before every work shift and found myself crying at how much the bosses and co-workers belittled me. After I quit that job, I found myself wondering, “Why businesses have to run like this? DO business HAVE to run like this? Who decided businesses have to be cut-throat, unforgiving, and unwelcoming?”