Amy Jo and Wolf

This duo is so dear to my heart. It was such pleasure visiting them on their family farm for this session. We took photos in the same creek that three generations of children have played in, that is so special. I love incorporating sacred places and objects into photos, I think it makes the photos even more powerful. I envision them being appreciated years later by future generations.

Enjoy this session of one of the coolest Mother and Son teams in town, Amy Jo and Wolf. Keep your eyes on Wolf, he is one of the most creative kids I know. I admire Amy Jo so much for providing him the space to be his true self. Also, we cannot do a proper photo session together without masks and makeup.

Angela's Downtown Maternity Session

Covid has dramatically changed a lot in all of our lives. We are all learning to adapt and be open to major changes and shifts to our habits. Covid has changed the way I photograph portrait sessions. All of my sessions are outside and I am using with a new lens that allows me to distance myself more. I actually love the way the way the lens looks in natural light, so no complaints here. Giving instructions through a mask is sometimes hard, but more often than not, my clients and I just get in sync pretty quickly. I am able to shoot naturally without too much direction.

My heart goes out to all of the new Mother’s who are birthing their babes during this pandemic. With only one person of support allowed in the room during delivery, people are forced to make some difficult decisions. If your partner or Mother is there, you cannot have a Doula there. Once they bring their baby home, family visits are limited. I can imagine it might feel even more isolating than usual especially during the winter months. Sending love to you sweet Mama’s, please know there is a big circle of giving energy around you at all times. All of the mama’s who came before you are sending love and light your way. I hope you can feel it and remember it when you go through some of the emotional first days of Motherhood. We love you and we are here for you.

Angela was such a pleasure to photograph. She wanted to do a shoot in her downtown neighborhood. This might be my first maternity shoot in the city. We dug into the idea that we are not just Mothers. We are business owners, professionals, doctors, attorneys. It is important to celebrate who we are and to really pay homage to the many roles Women take on with grace and strength.

Also, LOOK AT THAT RED DRESS! YES!!

Let us all lift Angela up as she will be birthing her babe int he next couple of weeks. <3 I hope she has the beautiful birth experience she desires.

Celebrating Deana

I was recently commisioned by Deana to create images to help her celebrate her Birthday, which is today! Lately, I have been thinking about the photography and the role it plays in people’s lives. We can capture everything with our phone, some new phones are better than my camera. I am grateful for that, I use mine for photos of my son all of the time. But, there is something else that happens when you are truly seen by another person. I can’t explain what it is, but when it happens it feels like magic. I realize my job is not essential, but I do believe it is important. Though it might feel like the world is falling apart some days, we still deserve to be able to experience happiness and to love ourselves. It is my extreme pleasure to provide space for people to do that.

Happy Birthday sweet Deana! It has been wonderful getting to know you, I hope you are smothered in love today!

Wednesday and Desi

It is always a treat for me when I get to celebrate my friends. It was a really beautiful day catching up on Wednesday’s family farm. I loved that we got to dig into some solo shots of Wednesday, she is always so fun to get creative with. Her little guy, Desi is such a sweetheart. Distanced photo sessions are so good for my soul right now. I appreciate the connection so much.

Autumn is lingering around this year, I have room for a couple more sessions in November. I would love to spend them photographing your family. I am booking outdoor only sessions for now.

Ode To Joy Twins!

To all of the parents out there doing their best to keep themselves together so that their children feel like everything is together, I see you. It’s tough out there. The weather is changing and the feeling in the air is heavy.

I am especially thinking of new parents today. The ones who are still in the trenches of the very isolating first few months of parenthood. I want you to know you are not alone in your feelings and I hope that you have support.

I photographed this sweet family a couple of months ago in their back yard, I am sure John, Claire and their tiny babies have grown so much since then. Photographing families, experiencing their joy brings me so much joy. I am so grateful for the families who have invited me to document their joy. The photos we make during this very uncertain time in our lives will serve as mementos of happiness and resilience.

Heart and Soul Wheat Paste Locations

The Heart and Soul wheat paste pieces are mini photo murals hanging all over Cincinnati. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement. I photographed 18 amazing Black Womxn with the intention of elevating their voices and to add inspiring images to the community. I asked 8 youth apprentices to collaborate with me by adding their own art to the images. The finished pieces have been wheat pasted throughout Cincinnati. I am grateful to Artworks and FotoFocus for making this project possible. I am especially grateful to all of the amazing Womxn who shared their stories with me throughout the project.

My collaborators who added design elements to the pieces are Izzy Chinchilla, Jessi DeNoma, Hafsatou Diakho, Shawn Kuchenmeister, Destine Laudat, Elizabeth Poselski, Rory Walsh, Myles Williams, and Chris Harrison.

Here is the list where you can find the images:

  • Annie Ruth, Bailey, and Skye at Avondale Business Center, Avondale – 3635 Reading Road

  • Nancy, Crystal, and Taren at Cream + Sugar Coffeehouse, Evanston – 3546 Montgomery Road

  • Aliah at The Welcome Project, Camp Washington – 2936 Colerain Avenue

  • Ewaniki and Adalia at CampSITE Sculpture Park, 2866 Colerain Avenue

  • Bebe and Nia at Artsville, Madisonville – 5021 Whetsel Avenue

  • Schera and Amber at New Generations Banquet Hall, Bond Hill – 4595 Paddock Road

  • Aprina, Kimberly and Honour at The Neighborhood House, West End – 901 Findlay Street

  • Sesheta at a private residence, West End – 1801 Baymiller Street

  • Kimberly at a private residence, West End – 1900 Baymiller Street

Heart and Soul Amber

This is my last Heart and Soul feature. I have been working so hard over the past few of months creating these images, working with the young artist on the designs, editing 10,000 images, learning to accept the love I have been graciously given by everyone involved. It has been one of the most beautiful, eye opening experiences of my life. I am looking forward to finally being able to sit with this project and really see it now that it is almost finished. Artworks is finishing up the install next week. I will then be able to share a map of all of the locations.

One of my favorite quotes that I play in my head daily, especially when I feel overwhelmed and helpless is “Tend to the part of the garden that you can touch” It is easy to get so wrapped up in fear, and a feeling of not knowing what to do that we get paralyzed and end up doing nothing. I have been stuck there many times. Right now, that feeling can be intensified for a lot of people. Your heart is good, you want to help but you dont know where to start. I suggest you start with asking yourself questions and make the changes within yourself to make sure your life is inclusive, inviting, and loving. Think about your own biases and where they come from. We are programmed to think a certain way and we can be unprogrammed. It takes work. Look at your family, your children. What are you teaching them? How inclusive is their life? Are you having the difficult conversations necassary to make change. I encourage you to talk to your Black neighbors, your Black co-workers, your Black friends. Tell them you love them. I encourage you to stand up for them even when they are not there. I hope you will lead with your heart and with empathy. Love your neighbor, because your neighbor is you.

This is my friend Amber, who I have admired from afar for years. She was supposed to be part of a big project I put together last year on my birthday, but recently told me she didn’t come because she felt uncomfortable knowing she was the only Black Womxn there. This broke my heart, and opened my eyes. I appreciate her honesty in everything she does. She is an activist, a model, and a muse. My time with her was so inspiring, the way she opened up to me and mused with me was beautiful. Watching her dance across the field, laughing, and feeling so confident and free was a feeling I wish every Womxn could experience. I am so grateful for Amber and for every single Womxn who trusted me to tell their story. My heart is full. <3

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commissioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.









Heart and Soul Kimberly

Kimberly’s story was so touching and inspiring. She runs an amazing organization called Ladies of Leadership. A description from their site. “We are an organization that is focused on building and enhancing leadership and interpersonal skills for inner city  ​young ladies in impoverished communities.  We build sisterhood and trust through mentoring so that young ladies develop a sense of worth and confidence.”

Kimberly took her own life experiences and used them to help others. I think that is one of the most important things we can do for each other, share our stories and learn from each other. If you have been down and got back up, share that with others so they can pull from your strength. If you are in a position to help, Ladies of Leadership accepts donations to help cover the costs for young girls to be part of the mentorship program. You can donate to this amazing organization here.

Coming September 2020, ‘Heart and Soul’ is a photo installation project that was created to elevate the voices of some of Cincinnati’s amazing Black Womxn. Commissioned by Artworks and funded by FotoFocus I worked with 8 youth apprentices to make mini murals created with painted photos that will be wheat pasted on Black Owned businesses around Cincinnati.