I was raised by an amazing mother, my best friend, my angel, a very intelligent independent woman. She raised me to chase after what I believe in with kind, bold, determination!
While on the other end of the spectrum was my father. My poppers, as I called him, urged me to chase my dreams relentlessly. He always wanted all his girls to “build your table strong.” He thought, “the more legs under a table the stronger a foundation the table has”…AKA the table legs are our talents and abilities. I will never lose sight of this vision in my mind. Over the years with my parents willingness to support my dreams and imagination, I found my way through many different cities and earned a BFA in Photography. You do not realize how difficult it is going to be when you hit the “real world”, especially as a fine artist or an aspiring professional photographer. However, if you push yourself and continue to simply share the love you have for what you do, you cannot fail! Especially if you had a man like my Dad always sharing his two cents and personal vision!
Through all my experiences whether difficult or wonderful, I have come to appreciate the growth I gained. I am so unbelievably grateful for every day I am given the chance to express my self through photography and be apart of such special moments in others’ lives and my own families lives…
So thank you to all those who have let me into their world for an hour, 5 hours, a day, a week, a year, my whole lifetime…You have, in short, helped to define my life, and the reason why I wake up every morning. Looking back through all these memories, I was a baby, a little girl and a young woman, but only through these images and restored photographs do I remember many of these moments!
While you are sitting at the computer this morning on this beautiful Thanksgiving, or seeing this on your iphone later, please take a moment and be sure to say out loud what you are grateful for. It is humbling and will not just make you smile, but laugh, cry, and maybe even help you reflect to someone you may not have remembered to thank!
Here’s to a warm and pumpkin filled feast from my Studio and family to yours.
xoxox,
Carly
Your daughter, sister, aunt, friend, partner in crime, dynamic duo, love, old friend, acquaintance, photographer