If you bring your pets to your photo sessions, I guarantee it will make my day. I grew up around dogs, cats, ducks, bunnies, guinea pigs, and Llamas!
At age 8 - I was devastated when my mom told me I couldn't have a pet elephant. However, once I got over my heartbreak, I realized that the logistics of keeping a pet that size in a 3-bedroom apartment on the 5th floor without an elevator was an acceptable excuse to decline my request.
As the self-proclaimed, most camera-shy person ever, I will gladly get a photo with any and all animals that cross my path while talking to them in my admittedly annoying talking-to-animals voice.
PHOTO CREDIT: SAMANTHA DELL
At the tender age of 20, I walked out of a bar in Germany, and shortly after that, my soon-to-be-husband followed, singing a Beatles song.
Here's a little backstory: I was the biggest Beatles fan growing up, and I also had a thing for redheads (which are pretty close to non-existent in Germany). So running into this unicorn of a red-headed Beatles-singing American was as close to love at first sight as it gets. Luckily, he felt the same way about me, and two years later, he asked me to marry him.
To make life more exciting, we added a cat, a dog, and two wonderful children to our family and are now living happily ever after in Missouri.
I like to provide a professional service, but with a friend-like approach.
I have a dry sense of humor, and nothing makes me more uncomfortable than people being uncomfortable - so naturally to counteract the awkwardness, I'll whip out my most embarrassing stories or start breaking out into dance or full blown singing - mid-session and show my unfiltered quirky side.
The more I can be myself, the more my clients can relate to me. Usually, that mindset comes at the cost of shaking my head in disbelief when I replay the embarrassing things I said - on the uncomfortably silent drive home after each session, but life is too short to take myself too seriously - so I jam to music and embrace being a photographer who is occasionally awkward.
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