Grace. By definition, grace means “unmerited favor; generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved gift.” Because this definition so applies to my photography, I named my camera Grace. She was a gift I didn’t deserve at a time in my life I certainly had nothing to give. Without a doubt in my mind, Grace was a gift from the hand of God. And with His gift of Grace came the gift of photography. I am blessed to look through her lens and witness spectacles many never see. He sets the shot; I simply press the shutter. The gift I am now able to graciously give to others is a glimpse of these spectacles in the form of images that He displays.

 

Photography has been my passion since childhood.  I was given the family Kodak Instamatic camera to take on a seventh grade field trip and a new world was exposed.  I’ve not had any formal training in photography – in fact, I thought for the longest time my calling in life was to write.  Teachers had encouraged me to pursue writing; however, this was not my major in college.  Imagine my complete and total elation when I realized the definition of photography is “writing with light!”

 

I grew up the proverbial middle child, not always noticed. This identity crisis has been documented on Facebook, so it’s for real. As a child, I vividly remember riding down country roads with my head on the passenger door, watching for the tiniest little pebble or blade of grass.  Like yesterday, I remember thinking, “I want to see every tiny thing that no one else would see.”  I wanted to notice all things that were over looked because that was my world.  With camera in hand, my very favorite photo shoot is macro photography – capturing the smallest detail of the subject while blowing out the obvious into the background in shallow depth of field.

 

My photography skill was later honed with a 35mm Minolta camera shooting photos of my sons, Eric and Kent, at home, on vacation, playing baseball, and living life. Countless frames later, I realized this photography passion could be more than a hobby focused on my sons, which thrilled them.

 

With my camera, Grace, photography continues to be my passion. And with the assistance of my associates, Eric, (SVP of Lighting), and Kent, (SVP of Background Humor), we assist clients graciously with their photo needs.