Recently, I was asked to share the story of why I became a photographer, my journey to where I am now, and what I have learned along the way.

Below is a little story with some pictures, that I may later regret showing you, but this is Part 1 of the the 3-part series of my story…

When I was 8, if you would have asked me what I thought I would be when I was older, I would have said a teacher.

When I was 15, after going to Cambodia, I decided I was going to teach overseas.

When I was 18, I was doing music full-time while in college.

Then at 20, I fulfilled the dream of teaching overseas by living and teaching in Thailand, using music as an integral teaching tool.

At 21, I went back to Thailand because of my deep love of the people and culture and decided to take along my new camera at the time, a Nikon D80.

After years of struggling with what I felt I needed to do with my life, I came to two conclusions: I love people. I love the arts. Both are unpredictable, constantly changing and full of life and stories.

I am a sentimental person. So, I have always loved photos. Just ask my family. They’ll show you the enormous picture collage wall, that to this day, is still proudly displayed in a hand-painted frame, completely filling an entire wall in my former bedroom at my parents’ house.

But I never would have thought I’d be a photographer. That leads into My Journey…

(to be continued)