I bought my first DSLR camera in 2003 to document my son. That feeling of wanting to photograph everything in my life came back as if I was 14 again. I realized then that photography is in my DNA. I also recognized that photography, to me, was a form of therapy to deal with the anxiety and stress of my father’s death. Photography became something that brought meaning and joy to my life. Creating meant living, and creating was essential. It helped me process the complexity of my thoughts and emotions that I couldn’t express otherwise.

The visual stories I created with my camera became a part of understanding myself in a whole different way. Picking up a camera allowed me to see and capture the world around me in a new and insightful way by noticing my surroundings that I would have never noticed before. Photography has made me a better observer, allowing me to find beauty in the simplest things around me and appreciate life even more.

I believe a photograph is a return ticket to a moment otherwise forgotten. Whether it’s the imperfect blurry giggling selfie photo tucked away in your smartphone or a print that your dad meticulously preserved since you were two, that photo holds so much meaning now in our lives, even when that moment is long gone.

So, remember that Kodak Disc 4000 camera? During the summer of 2017, my second son competed in speedcubing (that’s solving Rubik’s Cubes super fast for those who are not familiar with it). Apparently, it’s a thing. We traveled all over the US for him to compete, and one day, we landed in Detroit, Michigan, for the finals. During our lunch break, we visited a nearby camera store that was going out of business, and by the time we got there, everything in the store had been emptied except for one box sitting on the shelf. I kindly asked the owner what was in the box. He said, “If there’s anything in there, you can have it.” Unbeknownst to him, a practically brand new Kodak Disc 4000 camera was in that box, exactly like the one I had lost. I shared the story about the camera with him, and he graciously gifted it to me, and I’ve held on to it ever since. It is my WHY and my purpose for waking up doing what I love because photography brings me meaning and joy unlike anything else I’ve ever known.

If photography has taught me anything, it is to count our blessings, appreciate the simple things, and celebrate life, for it is short. Be present, never take anything for granted, and keep documenting your memories. If this resonates with you, I’d love to connect and learn more about your story.