You studied Fine Art at UW–Madison [BS-Art ’07] before building a photography career around the country. What first sparked your interest?

My late father was an *incredibly* talented hobbyist photographer, and one of my fondest memories was him teaching me to use his old Nikon 35mm film camera. Seeing the prints develop in the chemicals hooked me, and I never looked back. I LOVE storytelling, and photography became a way for me to quietly tell a story in each frame, preserve memories (I’m SO sentimental), and honor my subjects.

What inspired you to move back to Wisconsin and open your own studio?

One of the reasons we left was to expand my horizons as an artist. It was incredible to be enmeshed in the arts elsewhere, but what excites me now is seeing what local Madison creatives are doing, and I want to be part of building up that scene. There is so much collaboration and inter-arts experiences that are happening. It’s really exciting. Madison has been incredibly fortunate to have generous donors for the arts, and instead of losing our talent to bigger cities, people are now coming to MADISON to be part of our creative scene.

Who typically uses the space?

I’ve always had an immense love of the arts- not just the visual arts like photography, but music and the performing arts. I was a member of the Madison Ballet, on the UW-Madison Dance Team, and have taught dance for over 20 years. So, many brands I work with are performing arts companies. It has felt incredible to use my talents to amplify other organizations whose mission I believe in wholeheartedly. That is my favorite part of my job- visually amplifying others and helping them tell their story. But it’s not just arts organizations- I work with small and large brands, and hold quarterly mini sessions for families. Other photographers rent my space 2 days a week. We host classes, free lectures, and open studio time. It’s just a big wide-open clean environment for any content creation needs people have!

What does success look like for you right now, both professionally and personally?

Success for me looks like 1) balance, 2) joy, 3) sustainability. After 41 years living inside my body and brain, I have finally figured out my ideal balance of work and personal life, and I ensure I maintain that balance for my mental and physical health. It took me reading The Artist’s Way to get back to my roots and rediscover what brings me true joy.

Sustainability is a huge marker of success for me. Pre-pandemic, my business only brought in money when I was directly, physically working. Now, my business is built with multiple safety nets that don’t rely exclusively on my presence. Building these systems took me a long time, but they have paid off immensely in peace of mind.

Also…side note… I really just hope my kids are proud of me. I’ve worked to build a business that would allow me to be the best mom I possibly could. I want them to see their mom winning and be proud of who I am. If they are proud of me, then I will have succeeded. Everything I do, I do for them.

What advice would you give other women who want to pursue creative careers or start their own businesses?