ABOUT THE ARTIST

I suppose I could talk about why I chose photography as a hobby long before it became a career or why I love creating something meaningful with my heart and molding it into something with my hands that lasts forever. I could even share my experiences and write about the technical part of my job and while all those things are well and good, it wouldn't tell you much about me.

The truth is you can find me most days behind the lens shooting the ordinary and extraordinary. I like watching the sun rise. I like the smell of pine. I like bare feet, especially the itty bitty kind. I like the expression on a groom's face when he sees his bride for the first time. I like hot chocolate when my hands are cold. I like finding the biggest sea shell on the beach. I like the way a newborn cries. I like finishing what I start. I like re-connecting with old friends. I like making new friends. I like giving back and I love my family, the ones I came with and the ones I chose.

That's why I'm dedicating this site to a very dear friend of mine who taught me to fully appreciate all these things. Her name is Kate Rankins and she passed away from cancer suddenly and unexpectedly on July 11, 2009. Kate was a light. Her laughter, her joy, her love, and her life were all a testimony to the kind of person she was. She saw beauty in the ordinary and taught me to embrace life with my arms wide open. Kate left behind a legacy of friendship and family and I can't think of a better way to honor her life than to remember her this way every day.

I am pleased to announce that Portrait Expressions has established a memorial fund called Kate's Cause through the American Cancer Society. 5% of every portrait session will be donated to ACS for research from now until we find a cure. Kate believed in giving back and family. She deserved to watch her children grow up and grow old with the one she loved. If she had been given more time to fight her battle with cancer I know she would have been a patient advocate and pushed for the development of further research. Kate's Cause is a tribute to the life she gave and the foot prints she leaves behind.

Each day is a gift. Every moment an opportunity to change the world in a big or small way. Photography is but a tool to capture those moments and make them last forever. It is my privilege to serve you and all things important to your family. I love what I do and it is my hope you will enjoy creating those memories just as much too.