Photo assistant: Frey Upcraft
Editing/Lighting/Studio: Dragon Dreams Photography
Hair by: Andie Piazza
Make up by: Janet Cake
When I was growing up, I watched a show called America's Next Top Model. I always felt so inspired by the photographs they created, they were creative, different and bold. At a young age I decided that was the kind of style I wanted to have. I desired to make it my own with special flares that would make my work stand out from others. My mom was a collector of fine art creator, Michael Parkes, I have always been drawn to his style and feel my work is pleasantly affected by it. When I attended the art institute, I had the opportunity to learn about several artists such as surrealists like René Magritte and Salvador Dali, their works have also greatly influenced my taste.
My love for retouching comes from within myself. I was constantly bullied about my skin and weight as a young person. When I began taking photos of people (before photoshop) they would constantly complain about their flaws, making me feel like my photos were not good enough. When I went to college, I learned about the basics of photoshop, and it was one of my career changing classes.
There are some people who refuse to use photoshop and that's a wonderful, authentic way to go, but personally, I use it to create my dreamy style and I love it. I use lighting and equipment to create emotion in an image. It's not just "a great camera", it's my skill and knowledge. I absolutely love what I do and hope to create beautiful images that spark your motivation.
