It was summertime and the sun illuminated yellows and greens brightly as the meadow stood still in the foreground of towering granite rocks. I remember adjusting my eyesight through the viewfinder as two meandering deer came into focus from behind the tall grass. Then I shot. 

This scene from Yosemite describes my very first photograph. Being only eight years old, I had no way of knowing the impact this experience would have on my future and how grateful I'd feel towards my Aunt for trusting my small hands to carry her large professional camera. In following years, it was because of this experience that my talent for photography developed with constant practice and I have remained determined - above all else - to improve my skill.

It began with family events or taking my best friend's portrait. Then my business launched during sophomore year of high school and, by word of mouth, people in my community started thinking of me for all their picture needs. I was asked to commemorate high school experiences - the notorious senior portraits, prom and sports pictures. When I gained post-processing skills in Adobe applications like Photoshop and Lightroom, the quality of my photos increased significantly. Then I branched out and photographed athletic teams, pets, pregnancies, baby showers and eventually couples on their wedding day. I feel honored to participate in such important moments, not only because they are once-in-a-lifetime occasions, but also because it means that my clients trust my capabilities.

Although people I photograph tend to be insecure, I've noticed that just one good photo of irrefutable beauty can change their perception of themselves, which is something special to witness. This is one way that photography has reminded me to continually question the spirit of the art: to make sure I'm not compromising my individual perspective and posting on social media to please others, but instead having an unwavering purpose behind every snapshot. When I'm lost or discouraged, I always come back to my roots in photography - my fascination with Yosemite tranquility and the ability to preserve the magic of a moment.