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Born in 1970 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. We moved soonafter to Minneapolis where my early love of lakes and water began. I have two brothers and two sisters. The notion of chaos began at an early age. My early interests in life included skiing (my parents both taught ski school), riding horses (the more jumps the better), the outdoors, and creating art. I loved school. Yes, I know how this sounds.
My mother said that I was born with a suitcase in my hand, always wanting to travel. I was also born an overachiever, and apparently put pressure on myself from a young age, something I still do to this day. (Admittedly Type A. my apologies.)
We moved to Omaha when I was ten. I cannot say leaving for Nebraska was exciting at that time in my life. However, it soon became home. I began to appreciate the subtle beauties here. My first camera was a blue Canon Snappy. Anyone remember those? At fourteen I received a Pentax K1000 with a stack of books by Kodak. It was here that my love of photography truly began. I was ‘self taught’ and remember early shoots I did well. Frozen flowers in a late spring snowstorm. Friends of mine would dress up for me and I’d create a photo studio in my bedroom with existing lights used in unusual ways. It was a world transformed. I was always the person with the camera and found looking through a lens an intriguing way to see the world.
My academic interests were always in art history, international relations, French, language, and fine art. After studying art history and architecture in Italy, I made the decision that I wanted to be an artist. Studying painting and drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I soon rediscovered my passion for photography. It was profoundly magical. From the experience of looking through the lens and making photographs to the darkroom making prints, I loved every ounce of it. In 1995 I graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BFA in photography. I can see now how my earliest images from school and thereafter led me to where I am today. Photographing people and places brought me to another space. Connecting on a deeper level with my subjects, composing images that were compelling and yet formally composed, I continued to look at the world.
In 1996 my world seemingly stopped in its tracks. I met Charles in a photo studio. His work took my breath away. His vision inspired me deeply. He had just moved to Omaha. We dated three weeks. Our quick engagement and working collaboration is a story we often get asked about. I still repeat what I always have said. “When you know you know.”
Parenthood has been the biggest privilege of all. I am the proudest mother and have loved every ounce of motherhood. It has deepened how I photograph people, especially children and babies. I wax poetic with every chance to photograph a baby, to capture their young souls. I still pinch myself that I get to do exactly what I love every day. It is a dream.
My other loves include but are not entirely limited to…
Running with my white lab Scout
Cooking anything. I am a foodie.
Baking many things. Mostly baguettes, cookies, and breads
Fashion: vintage, new, young designers, and my grandma’s and mom’s closets
Skiing on snow and water
Travel anywhere. But especially Paris, the south of France, Thailand, Sun Valley, NYC, and San Francisco
Playing Scrabble
Riding my bike
Reading to my kids
I love things that are handmade with quality.
I have a weakness for shoes.
My work has found its way into galleries, contests, collections, blogs, and publications.
But if you know me well enough you will discover I hate to boast.
My journey is just beginning.