Creating Art from the Faces that you Love, what could be more Beautiful!

I received my first camera when I was 10 years old, back in the film days. We were a family that loved camping, hiking, waterfalls and wildlife. I took pictures of what I saw in Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Park. Later, I volunteered at a wildlife park in Arizona, where I got to play with wild cats and a hyena and get portraits of wild creatures. Mike and I are avid kayakers. Wildlife does not look for you to come across the water, so I am able to capture a lot of wildlife with my lens. I have gained international recognition as a bird photographer. We love slowly crossing the water looking for wildlife.

I am a wife, grandma, Tia (aunt) and friend. I cherish each role. I love tea parties, trips to the zoo, and cuddles. Having lost several pictures of my nieces and nephew when a computer died, I am passionate about actually printing the portraits. Kids love seeing their portraits on the wall. And what more beautiful art could there be but the faces of the family that you love!

I started painting in 1986, I love working with color. That passion has served me well with photography too. I have a need to be creative above just taking a picture. Composites are a challenge, putting several portraits together to tell a story about the person in them. I also love painting in photoshop. I can take a portrait and give it the look of a traditional oil painting. I won the International Golden Turd Award with a painting of a dachshund pup from a cell phone picture. Golden turd is the southern way of saying that you took something awful, the out of focus cell phone pic, and made something beautiful from it. I loved the challenge.

Fast forward to 2019, when I started Bunches of Joy Photography. It has always been about bringing Joy to the people in front of my lens. Showing each person how beautiful they truly are. Empowering them to be their authentic self by seeing themselves through the light. Encouraging others, it is who I am, and what I do with my camera lens.

Family, bonds that last forever, love, the memories, celebrating families and their bonds, that’s what my photography is all about. It’s showing what is special, unique, and honoring your family with portraits that are fitting to be the art on your walls.

Your family is a masterpiece.

Below you will find pictured that share my passions, and a some award winning or published photographs.