An Open Letter to You
Photographs have always meant so much to me because growing up, my family and I moved constantly. Due to the continuous downsizing/relocating, I never was able to keep sentimental items/souvenirs. But….we did keep photographs.
Yes, TONS of them, in an oversized plastic bin which were all tossed together at random. And I CHERISHED those photographs; they were the only memories I had of anything. As a child, I would sit on the cold basement floor and shuffle through them for hours every week, overwhelmed with fuzzy feelings. Even as an adult, my own home is filled with framed vintage wedding portraits of both sets of my grandparents and touching memories that surround me. There is nothing in this world that means as much to me as photographs do. I love to document every single moment, even in my personal life; be it birthdays, my friends, vacations, my cat, and big events I attend. My camera is nearly another extension of my body at this point, and nothing pleases me more than being able to capture those types of happy memories for others through my work.
HOW IT STARTED
ON CAMERA
What began as me running around high school football games taking photos of my friends quickly became my entire life’s mission. From my very first amateur session during freshman year, I had this overwhelming feeling that photography was what I was meant to do with my life. The adrenaline, the joy, and the fulfillment portraiture brought me were unlike anything I had ever experienced — and honestly, it still feels that way to this day.
What truly solidified this career path for me happened during my sophomore year of high school, about six months into my photography journey. I had asked a girl friend from my school to model for me. She was very quiet, reserved, and never someone who enjoyed attention, so she seemed surprised by my request. Something in me just felt like she needed a confidence boost, and I thought a photo shoot might give her exactly that.
After she received the images, her mom sent my mom a message I will never forget. She said:
“I’m not sure what Mikayla said to my daughter during that photo shoot when it was just the two of them, but you returned a completely different daughter to me than the one I sent. I’ve never seen my baby girl feel so confident, so beautiful, so seen, or so accepting of herself the way she does after seeing those photos Mikayla took of her. She's always refused to be in pictures with us at family gatherings, and now it's like she can't get in front of the camera enough. I cannot tell you how special that is for me to see as her mother.”
That moment changed everything for me.
My greatest joy in photographing people — of all genders, races, ages, and backgrounds — is helping them see the beauty I’ve always seen in them. From the moment I read that message, I knew without a doubt that this was the calling placed on my heart by the universe; to capture people’s true beauty and help them recognize it for themselves.
I remember thinking, “If I can spend my life giving people even a small piece of what my high school friend felt that day, that is the legacy I want to leave behind.”
THE IN BETWEEN
Celebrating people is the best part of my job.
And when I use the word “celebrating,” I’m not just talking about flashy events like weddings. Celebrating each other comes in all forms, both big and small. Although I often showcase the more polished aspects of my work on social media, my personal favorite projects are often the ones that happen in private.
I thrive on the bittersweet opportunities to tell stories that are deeply personal to my clients. It’s extremely special to be trusted enough to photograph a family with a terminally ill loved one, knowing these images may become some of their last tangible and most meaningful memories with that person.
Sometimes, it’s a boudoir session for someone facing breast cancer who is about to undergo a double mastectomy and wants lasting images to help cherish her natural body before it is changed forever. Other times, it’s a session celebrating someone who has gotten sober and wants to capture how healthy and happy they now feel. Or it’s a branding session for someone who, after years of blood, sweat, and tears, has finally accomplished their dream of opening a business.
Life is hard — harder than we’d like to admit. That’s why I find it important to celebrate people and their journeys, both with them and for them.OFF CAMERA
During the week, there’s nothing I love more than a strong latte, Lana Del Rey or Noah Kahan, and my cat, Evie, by my side while I edit away. Evie is not only my couch potato cuddle buddy, but is also my editing supervisor, model, and honestly...MY MUSE. I'm an old soul and I am obsessed with anything vintage; antiques of all kinds --jewlery, clothing, furniture-- venues, historic landmarks and towns, houses --in fact, I own a 3-story Victorian that I fixed up all by myself in my early 20's-- and old-timey music. I can't say I'm a "cool" pop-culture girly who's up on the latest trends...but trends are already so yesterday, am I right?! Honestly, I'm here for the timeless s*** that never goes out of style. I'm also a big dabbler in random hobbies (most of which have been acquired in my later 20's) like watercolor painting, gardening, and pole dancing. In case you haven't realized it yet, I'm just a pure creative at heart and am always looking for a new outlet to express myself. And lastly, I'm an adventurer! I've discovered that the real key to happiness in life is not money or power...but it's always having another vacation planned in your calendar. So on average, I'm out of the country at least every other month and enjoy smaller domestic trips in between with my closest friends and my super cool husband. This world has so much to offer and my goal is to experience as much of it as I can.Personal Passions
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Photographer
Photography has never ceased to teach me, inspire me, and challenge me. I feel like looking through my lens has and forced me to see the world in a whole new light and to recognize the beauty in and around us all that I was completely blind to before.
Wherever I go, you can bet my camera will be attached to me like another limb; hiking in a forest, swimming through a river, or wandering around an iconic city.
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Traveler
I believe traveling the world shouldn't be a luxury, it should be a right. I've backpacked all over, with my camera in hand, couch surfing for free, just for the opportunity to be enlightened by other cultures, enhanced by strangers, and to indulge in exotic and delicious foods. So far, I’ve visited over 45 countries and 80% of the United States. I’m often asked which places have been my favorites, and although that’s a very tricky question to answer, I’d have to vote that the top winners for me were Turkey and South Africa (due to having some of the most interesting natural beauty, kindest people, and most delicious foods).
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Cat Mom
Meet Evie, my pride and joy. I have a lot of friends, but she may be my best! I'm convinced in another life she was a dog; considering how friendly, loyal, playful, and talkative she is.
Not only is she my most photogenic subject, but she is also my head editing supervisor during long weekdays at my in home office. She knows how to keep me on track!