2025 Round-Up: A Year of Change, Growth, and Creativity
As I look back on 2025, I’m struck by how much life can hold in a single year. It’s been a season of big moves—literally—and big emotions. Our family relocated(back to the old neighborhood), we navigated the loss of a loved one, and we also welcomed a long-awaited visit from family from China. It reminded me how much photography, like life, is built on moments that are both fragile and meaningful.
Through all the transitions, I continued doing what I love: telling real stories through photography. This year brought a mix of commercial, school portrait, family, and documentary work, and I’m grateful for every single project. I had the honor of photographing for major brands—including Huggies—which pushed me creatively and reaffirmed my passion for commercial storytelling.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I found a new love for personality portrait sessions through school photography. There’s something special about capturing kids just as they are—no forced smiles, just authentic expressions.
Family photography sessions remained a meaningful part of my year as well. While I’ve had limited availability for traditional family sessions, I’m truly thankful for my loyal clients who have trusted me year after year. Your continued support means everything, and it’s because of you that I get to keep doing this work with purpose and heart.
On a personal note, 2025 was also a transformative year for my fitness and mental health. I completed a half marathon with a new personal best, and I hiked down the Grand Canyon not once but twice—first in May and then again in October, with that second trek essentially matching a full Rim-to-Rim challenge. I’m now training for my very first full marathon, something I never imagined I’d take on. Taking control of my health has grounded me through all the transitions this year and helped me set clearer priorities. It reminded me that discipline isn’t just about workouts or miles—it’s about showing up for yourself, even on the hard days, and creating space to grow stronger in every part of life.
Another big part of our year revolved around my kids and their deepening love for theater. They were involved in multiple main stage productions at the Mesa Arts Center, which meant our family spent many evenings surrounded by scripts, costumes, and creativity. I found myself jumping in behind the scenes—helping with costumes, set building, and even crafting projects like crochet to support fundraising efforts. Being part of their artistic world has been incredibly rewarding, and it’s reminded me how powerful the arts are in shaping confidence, community, and imagination.
Looking ahead to 2026, there are some exciting shifts on the horizon. As I homeschool my own kids, I’ve seen the need for more accessible, creative art education. Because of that, I’ll be dedicating more of my time to teaching. I’ll be offering in-person photography classes as well as other art and craft workshops designed to inspire, teach, and empower both kids and adults.
I have two free kids’ art classes coming up through the Vision Kids program at Vision Gallery in Chandler Arizona.
I will also be creating more classes for the homeschool community in general. If you have any topic in mind for me to cover, shoot me an email and let’s see if we can make it happen.
I’ll also be hosting regular pop-up events—simple, stress-free portrait sessions that are perfect for kids, families, or anyone who wants an updated photo without the full session commitment. These pop-ups will be fun, quick, and designed to capture those real, in-between moments I love so much.
Thank you for being part of my journey this year—whether you booked a session, attended a class, supported my work online, or simply followed along. I’m excited for what 2026 will bring, and I can’t wait to create more art, share more stories, and continue documenting the beauty in everyday life.
Here’s to a new year full of creativity, growth, and meaningful moments.
