Biography

I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Journalism/Photojournalism studying with Donna Schwartz. I then moved to NYC where I interned as a photographer & Black and White printer at the "Village Voice" weekly newspaper for some great documentary photographers like Sylvia Plachy and under the great photo editor/photographer Meg Handler. I continued working as a freelance photographer for national magazines such as Vibe and George and social conscious newspapers working on portraits and photo essay stories. I also worked with Magnum Photos photographers as an assistant and at the NYC bureau for the documentary agency. 

I went on to be accepted and completed my Masters in Fine Arts from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts in Film Directing and went on to directing films for film festivals. I've worked as a Media specialist at corporate organizations such as Houghton Harcourt Mifflin and a research organization International Food Policy Research based in Washington, DC. I'm currently part of an International Humanitarian organization as part of a team as a media specialist and that I'm fortunate enough to be sent on assignments in places where we work around the world to document the work in video and photography media with developed ethical storytelling skills.

If you're new to this conversation of "ethical storytelling", it's really about making sure that I am telling the stories of the people I work with, with mutual respect and maintaining the dignity of people who's stories I tell. What's important is that I'm creating authentic stories that focus on connecting people of different backgrounds and highlighting the fact that we are one common family irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, or economic background. So the sensibilities I bring to my travel documentary work, I also bring that approach and appreciation of the beauty of the moment to my portrait, editorial and wedding assignments.