Hey there! It's been a month since I launched this new side hustle, and I thought it was time to introduce myself and share why I started this new venture.
I've been a journalist for over 20 years, and I can't imagine doing anything else. I love what I do and the opportunity to provide people with useful information.
Ironically, I kind of stumbled into journalism. My true passion is photography. I picked up my first camera in high school art class and instantly knew it was my calling.
I was fortunate enough to learn photography before the digital age, developing and printing my own photos. Spending time in a darkroom was pure magic.
While I loved photography, I didn’t know how to turn it into a career. Becoming an artist felt daunting as a teenager, but after some research, I discovered photojournalism.
At first, this was a challenge since I was never a strong writer. But carrying a camera around all day was worth it. Doing something I loved pushed me to improve my writing skills.
I remember my first job as a photojournalist. I was a summer intern for a regional newspaper in Southern B.C. I think I wrote maybe 10 or 15 articles that summer, but my biggest accomplishment was using up the entire year's photo budget in two months.
Over the past decade, I've focused more on the journalism side, but I haven't completely abandoned photography. This new side hustle is exciting because it allows me to share my personal photos with the world.
This all feels a bit exposing, but I’m eager to share the beauty I see, to shed some light in what often feels like a darker world. My family inspires me. Capturing their moments of joy—whether it’s watching a squirrel or gazing at the ocean—is what it’s all about.
While I’m a little nervous, I can't wait to share these moments with you.