In the spring of 2007, I brought a little compact camera with me to rural China. I was there with a youth group to teach English, and over the course of the trip I used my camera to document the things we did. When I got home and showed the pictures to my friends, I realized for the first time the potential that pictures had to affect people.

     Since then, I’ve gone on to college, and occasionally I get the chance to photograph weddings with Blaine Siesser, who is a good friend as well as a mentor to me. I learn something new every time I shoot with him, and it was a truly great honor to co-photograph his wedding with Adam Czap.

     Right now, my Architecture classes at the University of Michigan demand a lot of my time, but once in a while I’ll get the opportunity to photograph a wedding or an event, or host an exhibition. People like the work I do, and as long as that remains true I will keep pressing that shutter button.