Who I Used to Be

January 22, 2024

This body of work is an ode to all of our past, present, and future selves. All the parts we love and hate about ourselves, and all the things we hope to one day become. It’s the parts of us that we celebrate because we’ve left behind – or that we lost along the way and yearn to get back. The traits that are giving us strength and power or that are currently holding us back.

Defiant. Angelic. Afraid. Lost. I purposefully left each piece unnamed. I encourage you to connect with the emotions or symbols in each of the images, and think about a part of yourself that you used to be, are now, or hope to be in the future… and give it a name. Speak it out loud. Pause in reflection. If you’re willing, share with your friend. We’re all a work in progress, and it is the process that is most important.

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These images were made over the course of two days as part of a mini-residency at ”The Shed In Collaboration”. I had no idea how transformational of an experience this would be. For the past five years, I have been so focused on working my way up in the commercial photography industry that I didn’t even realize I had left a huge part of myself behind in the process: the person who just loves the art of photography for photography’s sake. This was an awakening of sorts, and I am so grateful to everyone who put their time and talents into the project. What I thought would start and end in the course of the 2-day shoot has turned into a new beginning so to speak, and I am so happy that the past part of me who poured their heart and soul into her photography has been reborn.

Thank you a million times over to the talented models who poured THEIR hearts into the photos - Peyton, Quannah, Daphne, Teo, and Alyse. You have no idea how much you’ve impacted me. To Vickey, the amazingly talented hair and makeup artist who said ‘yes’ to this experiment practically before I was even done typing the question, and who showed up with ideas and enthusiasm - as she always does. And to Kurt. Thank you for encouraging me to think outside the box, to experiment, and to play. And to discover who I used to be - a girl with a camera who has nothing to prove.