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Photography is about power. The photographer uses her power to capture moments, events, personalities and transform a fleeting memory into an heirloom that will be handed down generation to generation. The photographer controls the lighting, the details, and composition of the image, but the best photographers use their skills to sort through any scene to find the story that needs to be told. Photography has given me confidence and my own power. I discovered that I could make photographs that tell a story. These aren't necessarily my stories, but the stories I am surrounded by during a wedding, during a family portrait session, and even when working with an individual. It is not enough to know your subject, there are technical aspects that must be mastered. When I made the decision to become a professional photographer, I started by attending Hallmark Institute of Photography. The Hallmark faculty has some of the best photographers such as Gregory Heisler, David Turner, Richard Barnes, Tony Downer and Dick D'Allesandro. They worked with me on lighting, composition, and how to work efficiently. I look forward to the future of being a portrait photographer and also a photo assistant.