Once I was medically retired from the Navy in November 2022, I struggled to find my place in the world. Nothing truly felt like home anymore, and I found myself struggling with my mental health while still trying to cope with the loss of my husband to suicide. On top of that, I no longer felt like I had a purpose.
During that time, I spent a lot of time on Fremont Street watching the band Alter Ego perform. I would constantly take photos and videos on my phone simply because I enjoyed capturing moments. Then, on Halloween 2024, I decided to bring my Canon Rebel T7 and finally give photography a real shot.
With the help of a friend and published photographer, I took my camera off auto mode for the first time to see what I could create. The moment I reviewed those photos, I instantly fell in love with photography, and at that point, I was not even shooting in RAW yet.
From then on, I brought my camera with me everywhere so I could continue practicing and learning. No matter what I was photographing, I wanted to better understand my camera and push myself creatively. Over time, I realized photography was helping me mentally by giving me something positive to focus on while allowing me to express myself creatively.