Twenty-five years ago, I walked into the courthouse in Brunswick, Maine, to sign the papers that made my photography business official. When you start anything, you hope it will keep growing, and I am so grateful that it did. As I reflect on these twenty-five years, grateful is the first word that comes to mind. Not only for this beautiful adventure, but for the people who have been part of every chapter of this story.
My husband's career in the Navy carried our family everywhere from Maine, Florida, Virginia, Texas, Washington and finally here to Alexandria. In every place we lived, I was fortunate to meet people who welcomed me in and trusted me with their stories. Each move brought new friends, new landscapes, and new moments that are forever embedded in my heart.
This month, we celebrated our 25th anniversary in the courtyard of our studio in Hollin Hall. Standing under twinkling lights, listening to Dan Murray sing, I looked around and realized that every chapter of my journey was somehow represented in the gathering that night. Friends who came to my very first exhibit in Brunswick twenty-three years ago stood beside families I had photographed just a few months earlier. The cherry on top was the lovely florals and treats from our fellow business friends, Helen Olivia, The Cut Butchery, Fabled Ice Cream, Hollin Hall Pastries, and Ellen Woods Bakes.
That is the heart of this community. People here show up, lift each other up, and celebrate one another's dreams, and that is what I truly love about Alexandria. We have lived in many wonderful places, but I feel especially fortunate to call Alexandria home.
The 25th Anniversary wall in our studio highlights twenty-five years of portraits, fine art prints, hand-painted oils, heirlooms, and landscapes. When I look at the collection, I remember the people behind each of these projects. Every piece brings me back to someone who was with me at that time in my life: a landscape taken on a family road trip, my first exhibit with my friends there to support me, an image that hung in the U.S. Capitol when we first moved to the D.C. area. I see the many adventures and threads that have woven us together, and all of the people who were there to cheer me on along the way.
My family has been my biggest fan, encouraging me every time I take my dream to the next level. Achieving my degrees as a Master Photographer, being inducted into the Camera Craftsman of America, or serving as governor on the board of the American Society of Photographers, they have always been there to celebrate with me. On this journey, it has been my mentors and photography friends who have generously taught me the art of this profession, giving back and sharing what they have learned. I feel so fortunate to be in a profession with a community that lifts each other up and creates space to grow together.
I believe we all have a light inside of us, and when we find a space to live in that light, so much gratitude follows. For twenty-five years, photography and community have given me that space. My clients have trusted me to capture the little moments, the kind that bring you right back to that moment in time, and I will be forever grateful to be a part of their story. I can't wait to see what we create together next.
SEE ALSO: Where Time Stands Still: Creating Children’s Hand-Painted Oil Portraits
