I’m a Big Fan of Genes.

Closely tied to my love of photography is that of family history. Fun fact: I used to be a volunteer at the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City where I introduced people to their own family tree and helped them learn how to use the incredible free resources available to them. It was insanely fulfilling to watch people’s eyes well up with tears when they discovered the pieces to the puzzle of their own stories—the people who came before.

Initially it may seem odd to connect creative photography with genealogy. Most people see the search for our roots as historical or bookish. But can it also be artistic? If you’ve ever gone to RootsTech, you’ll remember the moving stories they tell of how people discover where they come from via visual storytelling and stirring musical scores. And I bet you can think of a time when you discovered a painting, song, poem, or story by a grandmother or uncle that fills a gap you didn’t know was there. As Sean Critchfield said, “Art doesn’t just live in the artist. It travels. It connects us while reminding us that we’re not alone…” That’s what I want to create—art that lives on in the lives of others. My photography is my art, and I am excited to tell stories with it. Maybe I can tell your story.

I hope you’ll join me as I officially begin working with the RootsTech media team. This blog will be the written score and my camera will be the instrument by which I play that song for you. Thanks for listening. I sure appreciate it.

Learn more here.