For years, I hid behind the camera—capturing beautiful memories for other people’s families, but never stepping into the frame with my own. I told myself all the familiar things: I’ll wait until I lose ten pounds, get a haircut, until my kid is easier… until I feel like someone worth photographing.

I had every excuse not to be seen.Then one day, it hit me: I wasn’t in the story of my family. I had years of images of my husband and child at every stage, but almost none of me with them. I was the one holding the camera. I was missing.

With venurability, I booked a mini session with another photographer. I was terrified of how I’d look. But when the photos came back, I cried. There I was: laughing, cuddling, in the moment with the people I love most. Not perfect—but present. And that changed everything.

Now we do family photos every year. We pick a favorite to frame above the fireplace. Do I still have days I feel self-conscious? Of course. But I’ve never once regretted being in the picture.

That experience became the heart of what I do now.I created Wildlight Stories because I believe the best photos aren’t posed. They’re lived. The ferry rides, the park picnics, the quiet mornings at home—those everyday moments are where the real magic lives.

I offer photography that’s rooted in experience, not performance. You don’t have to smile on cue or stand just so. You just have to be there, with the people you love most. I’ll take care of the rest.

So if you’re nervous, if you’ve been waiting for “someday,” I see you. I’ve been you. And I promise: you are already worthy of being remembered.