People ask me all the time…

“Where do you get your ideas?”

And honestly? I don’t always know how to answer.

Because creativity has never really felt like something I turn on when I pick up my camera. It feels more like something that has always been there — a little spark that follows me everywhere.

I see a dress and I don’t just see a dress.

I see a character.

I see a story.

I see a senior walking through a garden like they stepped out of another world. I see a dramatic gown becoming part of a fantasy scene. I see a simple idea turning into something completely unexpected.

That’s probably why I’ve always collected things that inspire me.

Dresses. Textures. Vintage pieces. Antiques. Random objects. Beautiful little details that most people might walk past.

My Storybook Closet didn’t happen because I wanted to have “more outfits.”

It happened because I believe clothing can change how someone feels. A unique piece can help someone step into a version of themselves they didn’t know was there.

Many of the dresses in my collection came from a fashion photographer in New York City who created and collected one-of-a-kind artistic pieces for professional photographers to rent for photoshoots. When I had the opportunity to purchase her entire collection, I knew these pieces needed to keep telling stories.

They weren’t just dresses sitting in a closet.

They were waiting for their next chapter.

A huge part of my creativity also comes from the people I photograph.

Every senior walks in with their own story.

The athlete.
The artist.
The quiet one.
The one who loves being in front of the camera.
The one who says they “aren’t photogenic.”

I don’t see a blank canvas.

I see clues.

I listen to who they are, what they love, and what makes them different. Then I start building a session around them.

That’s where the magic happens.

Inspiration Is Everywhere

I draw inspiration from many places: music, books, art, fashion, movies, and the energy each client brings into the room. No two sessions are ever the same because no two stories are the same. I've collected hundreds of ideas in the last 20 years, just waiting for the right person, knowledge, money to create it...all just waiting for the right time. 

I ALWAYS THINK BIG...never small ideas.

I think the biggest source of creativity comes from staying curious.

From never deciding that something is “too weird.”

From NEVER doubting myself or my ideas.

From allowing yourself to play.

From remembering what it felt like to be a kid who could turn a cardboard box into a spaceship or a blanket into a castle.

That imagination never really goes away.

You just have to keep listening to it. ✨

And that’s what I hope every person who steps in front of my camera feels…

That they aren’t just getting pictures.

They’re stepping into a story that was created just for them.

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