You know those moments that are life changing? When the next day is different than the day before and the world is turned upside down or maybe even spins the other way?

My top 5...

The day I met my best friend, I was four. She was selling girl scout cookies and I got mad because I was a daisy and trying to sell enough to win the top girl scout cookie seller. She lived on my block.

My forth grade teacher who seriously believed in me, even when I couldn't spell state capitols and didn't pay attention in history.

Going to a high school basketball game where Travis sat next to me. He snuck in my favorite candy, Skittles and said my hair smelt pretty. Don't worry, it takes more than this but that was the official start to my world spinning the other way.

First photography critique in college by my favorite professor, now and forever. I photographed a soccer ball with flash. He told me if I ever used flash on another photography project I would fail Photography 101. In fear of not only going to school for a degree my mom thought would take me nowhere, I didn't want to get an F in my first class so I buckled down and didn't pick up a flash for 3 years.

Seeing Jessica Claire's work in 2004, my world turned upside down. I was planning my own wedding and a past bride of Jessica was showing off her pictures, understandably. My jaw dropped, I was changed. 'You mean a young female can be a wedding photographer??!'. Yes, I know today this is not a novel idea but 6 years ago it was. Without this small window into what could be, I wonder how long it would have taken me to realize I could have the best job photographing people in love.

So as destiny would have it the same time I was in California to shoot a wedding, Jessica Claire had a workshop that without question I had to attend. It was an awesome first workshop experience giving me new insight and confirming what I've been doing but the best was the mock wedding set up by the people below. You must check out their work because it is amazing! I'm so excited to show Midwest brides something different and beautiful that is completely obtainable. I loved every square inch, ENJOY!

Some new friends work you can check out from the workshop and my STL photog friends work to see more!!