I bought my first camera when I was 18, after I dropped out of college to get my first real job. The job didn’t work out, so almost 10 years later, here we are.
No hate to those who find their vocation through college education, it just wasn’t for me, and that’s ok.
Hi, I’m Stacey.
& I love blurry photos.
And regular photos. but i do love to brag about the blurry ones.
Here’s why I think you should book with me & how you know you can trust me with your memories…
I’m the oldest of three sisters, but one of 18 grandkids on one side, 18 on another and 14 on the other, and we were one of those close families growing up, on all sides.
My mom, sadly, passed away when I was a kid and my dad remarried, we moved from Ireland to Texas and we gained a whole new extended family (who honestly are awesome and I don’t tell them that enough). So I know big families, small families and blended families really well and love aspects of each.
My husband was a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine, but he is out now) and we lived in CA for 3 years. I would go back in a heartbeat for the beaches and the weather and the people, but we needed to be home, closer to family and in a location we could afford to raise our kids.
I’m just a little bit of an out of the box thinker. I think it makes the photos more fun, but also I’m a lil crazy (roadtrip through a snowstorm crazy and “let’s quit my job and move across an Ocean crazy”) so as a general rule I don’t expect my clients to do every single thing I suggest at a session.
I’m a girl mom of both. One girl, one boy and maybe more later, we haven’t decided yet.
My first birth was a 39 week induction and I had GD and a condition that caused excess amniotic fluid (fun - I looked like a whale though) and my second was a bit of a whirlwind of a C-Section that kinda traumatized me a little bit (I’m sure I’ll write a blog about that someday and am down to chat about both of my experiences with anyone).
When I’m not out shooting a session you might find me curled up on the couch with a good book (I’ll take all your romantasy recs, please) or with a ton of snacks watching trash tv or binging teen dramas, or spending way too much time “window shopping” with my tiny humans at Target, a market or a thrift store.
Here lately we’ve also been doing a lot of Zoo and Splash Pad trips because outside is my happy place.
Guilty secret - I HATE having my photo taken. I feel super awkward posing and I’m not a big fan of feeling like I’m not being “real”. (Hence the lean into storytelling photography and the distancing my business from heavily posed shoots). I want my kids to remember me how I really was, not a version of me that’s been masked for the camera.
I believe that life is more about the journey than the destination, and there’s something beautiful about every era in life.
I think if you’re waiting for the “perfect” moment to start living or to start loving yourself or to make the big leaps in life you’re not really living.
Why am I telling you all this personal information, you ask?
Because if you’re going to let me tell your story, I think you should trust me to be able to tell mine.
My own story has been full of crazy ups and downs, from immigration (twice), to marrying a U.S. Marine, moving from Texas to California with our pup, miscarriage, motherhood, moving back to Texas and my photography journey. Even though some moments are harder than others, I’m so grateful for all of them, the good and the bad, because they got me here and shaped the person I am.
I initially started my photography journey because I was (still am) in love with photography. It took a long time and a lot of heartache to eventually decide to turn it into a business right after my miscarriage in 2022. Now I’m so excited to continue my adventure with all the new challenges I’m sure will come with being a “Mom-Tog!”
I hope you’ll let me into your story to romanticize your little moments, and be behind the scenes for your big adventures, too!
I’m a sucker for romantic moments
My approach to capturing your memories is what I can only describe as romantic. I show up, I get to watch you and your beautiful family play, notice and capture your cute little relationships, and see your gorgeous love stories and my heart just fills with happiness.
I love that you let me be a small part of your special moments.
And since it’s YOUR story and I’m just an observer, I don’t like to intrude on it too much.
I want to be able to capture your most genuine smiles, your most authentic laughter, your kids’ most natural giggles. So I don’t ‘pose you’, tell you to “Cheese” or tell you to put half a hand in your front pocket. I think natural is best, so if it feels natural to steal a kiss, tickle a baby belly, run your hand through your hair… go for it.
To start I’ll give you some ideas for playful movement or activities and then take a step back to let you enjoy your dreamy moments.
Great photos are born from great friendships.
I really and truly believe that the better you know me, the better you’ll let me know you. And the best photos I’ve ever taken have been photos of friends, family and past clients who open up their homes or their hearts to me for their photography sessions.
I’m also a big believer in shared trust. I’ll never ask you to do something you don’t feel comfortable doing or that I wouldn’t try, myself (for all my couples who’ve been waist deep in the ocean in December, you know what I’m talking about). So here’s me and mine, you can check out our adventures on the blog and feel free to reach out and connect whether you want to book photos with me or not.
