When it comes to wall art, most people I work with are afraid to go big. So to be safe, they opt to choose a smaller size art piece to hang on their wall. In their mind, 20x16” sounds large. But in reality, it’s really quite small. So how do you know what size wall art you should get for your space? If you think you know the answer, I challenge you to think even larger. Then go larger again. Now, you’re probably closer to where you should be. Since many people have a hard time visualizing what an 8x10 looks like on their wall, I suggest taking a sheet of regular paper (8 ½ x11”) and taping it ..read more

Last fall I flew up to Pennsylvania and my hometown of State College. It was a whirlwind weekend. Since it was homecoming at Penn State, I marched the streets of downtown representing the Gulf Coast Florida chapter of alumni (one of 3 people from the sunshine state!), attended a rainy football game on Saturday and visited with family members. In between, I also photographed a family of 5 dogs and their people. Like typical weather in Happy Valley, we were welcomed with cool temps and overcast skies. Boy, I don’t miss that at all! It did rain too (no surprise), but I did get the photo session i ..read more

I had to look it up, but can you believe this is the 5th year that I’ve attended the Southeast Guidedogs walkathon as a vendor?? For me, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday morning than with dogs who give me all the feels! Southeast Guidedogs provides service, guide and skilled companion dogs at no cost for those in need. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make this happen. But simply put - it’s a life changer for so many individuals. I met so many wonderful pups walking for such a great cause! I even met a bearded dragon who walked this year! Never a dull moment at these ..read more

Last month, Three Dog Bakery in Osprey held their grand opening. It was a fun day for both pups and their people. They had raffles, free cake and treats for everyone, adoptable dogs from Humane Society of Sarasota County and Satchel’s Last Resort, an animal communicator and more! I brought my studio equipment and set it up to photograph headshots of dogs. It was a spontaneous decision to do this, but I’m so glad we did. In the three hours I was there, I photographed 19 dogs including some adoptable dogs and met lots of pups and their owners. If you haven’t checked this pet store out, you nee ..read more

I’ve been a member of Professional Photographers of America for several years, but have never attended their annual convention, Imaging USA, until this year. Held in Louisville, Kentucky, it did not disappoint! I left feeling inspired, energized, motivated and even overwhelmed. I’ve “met” so many photographers in online Facebook groups, but never in person. With a huge gathering of so many professional photographers in one place, it finally nice to meet some of these faces in person. I saw old friends I haven’t seen in years and met so many other wonderful people who are involved in the photo ..read more

Probably one of the most popular questions I get asked is if I sell digital files. And while the answer is yes, let me tell you why that should be your least concern when hiring a professional photographer. If you consider yourself a modern person, then you probably have some sort of social media account - facebook, instagram, and Tik Tok are some of the most popular socials right now. It’s easy to go down rabbit holes scrolling on your phone checking out what some of your favorite accounts are up to. If you’re like me, you probably follow several pet accounts. I just love watching some of the ..read more

I can’t believe our girl Tillie turns 15! She’s in amazing shape and we are grateful for everyday we have with her! Yes, she’s slowed down. Our walks take longer, we have to talk very loudly (I’m sure our neighbors wonder why we are always “yelling” at her) and she still stumbles around a little bit (the after effects of “old dog syndrome” episodes from a year ago). It’s incredible that she’s had no major health issues, no major surgeries and no visits to the emergency hospital. She’s not a purebred though I’m not exactly sure what breed she is. Obviously she is a red merle Australian Shepher ..read more

There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes after a photo session. In fact, a lot of the magic takes place in the post-processing. This is only a part of what makes the difference between a snapshot and a fine art photograph. As a photographer, it’s best to get everything right in camera. By that, I mean the exposure, composition and lighting. The more you do correctly in camera, the less work you have to do later. But, having said that, almost all images need a little, and sometimes a lot, of tweaking, before going to print. To see what I mean, I’m sharing a little behind the scenes post-pro ..read more

Everyone wants to look good for their photos, but let’s be honest, shall we? Choosing what to wear for your photo shoot can be very stressful. Part of my process includes a pre-session consultation with all of my clients. During this time, we will talk about best clothing and color choices for you’ll session. If you like, I’ll even go through your closet with you to help you pick outfits that will not only look great, but also make you feel amazing during your session!  Here are a few tips to help guide you – 1. Start with your color palette first. Choose 3 -4 colors that work well toget ..read more

It’s been just over 4 months since my golden retriever Izzy left us. One hundred and thirty six days. It’s hard to imagine my life without her. Yet, somehow I am. Honestly, I don’t know how people who’ve lost their young children or spouses cope.  There’s no correct way to grieve. Everyone goes through the process in their own way, in their own time. For the first two weeks I felt physical pain. My heart hurt, my stomach was in knots, I couldn’t sleep. All I wanted was to see her, pet her and kiss her. Just one more time.  I had regrets telling the vet I agreed that I needed to end h ..read more