How I Got Here

My joy for documenting the world started early. As a child, my must-have item for every family vacation and new adventure was a simple disposable camera. By high school, I was constantly purchasing National Geographic travel issues, and scrolling for hours on Tumblr, falling in love with aesthetic travel photos, creative portraiture, and photographic storytelling, journaling about dreams of traveling the world as a photojournalist.

After graduating from university with a degree in peace studies, that curiosity about human stories led me to live and work in Vietnam and Costa Rica teaching English. When the 2020 pandemic brought me home, I pursued a Master’s degree in TESOL, thinking it would be my permanent ticket to working abroad, though I quickly realized it wasn't my true passion. Seeking a way to stay connected to global stories, I relocated to Southern California to work as a case manager at a migrant shelter, eventually transitionsing into public education as both an ESL teacher and a bilingual refugee engagement specialist.

While I dedicated my career to international communities, I subconsciously sought out photography at every turn, constantly documenting my travels, editing visuals, and staying close to the creative world. After years of people complimenting my imagery and asking if I had ever considered doing this professionally, I finally decided to step fully into my purpose and make this lifelong passion my absolute priority.