I've loved photography for as long as I can remember. When I as 4, I won a Kodak Disc 3100 in a draw (or more accurately, Dad bought the tickets and all of our names went on them, and mine was the one drawn). Since I had not paid for the ticket, and I did not have the ability to drive to the city for more film, it was determined that ownership of the camera would be held by my mom. This might have also had to do with the fact that all of my pictures would be of knees or up noses since I was only 4.

Mom

Knowing that the camera was not mine did not stop me from getting up in the middle of the night on Boxing Day and taking pictures of every present I had received. I lined them all up against the wall in the dining room and slowly made my way around the room. I'm not sure if I was worried we would need a record in case of fire or theft, or if I was just so happy that I got the Sesame Street kitchen I'd wanted that I had to preserve the memory. You'd hate to take that chance that when you're in your thirties you won't remember the awesome gifts you got at 4. This was not the last time that I would have my own photo shoot, but definitely the most successful clandestine operation.

Hiding spot of the camera - the plate cupboard

Need the test shot to make sure it's working...

Regardless of what my reasoning was, this started my love of documenting everything in my life - sometimes the very important things like family gatherings, other times the simple things, like an outdoor Barbie wedding, or the balloons I was given for my birthday.

Slowly my choice of subjects has become more refined. Loving to capture moments in time, items that may be later forgotten and and images of people that will one day be gone is what lead me to enrol in photography school so that I could finally pursue my dream of being a professional photographer.