My story...

Born in Denver, raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, transplanted again to Denver after a few years in northern Wisconsin, "home" is wherever I happen to be at the time. But Congo is where my passion for birth was first ignited. As a young girl, I had the unique opportunity of accompanying a midwife to several births in our village. Sitting on the dirt floor in the small room of a darkened hut, my job was to hold the lantern hight and shine light wherever it was needed.  My contribution was minimal, but it was there that I had the privilege of witnessing the miracle of birth for the first time. I was in awe of the strength of these mamas, laboring powerfully and beautifully, without the aid of any modern medical interventions. I saw agony and exhilaration. Strength and sacrifice. Joy and loss. And I learned that birth not only brings a new person into this world, but it creates a new person out of a old one as each woman’s unique birth journey unfolds and she takes on the role of mother. 

Experiencing childbirth for myself had a profound impact on me and after the birth of my second, I realized that supporting women through childbirth and that incredible transition into motherhood was truly my passion, and I became trained as a professional doula. Photography also was a big deal to me at that time, but with my first daughter, no one remembered to take pictures until well after she had been born, dried off and wrapped up snugly. I don’t remember what her cord looked like or whether she was coated with vernix or not. And I wish more than anything I could have seen the expression on my husband’s face when she was born. But those things, along with many other details, were never recorded, and in the haze of birth, never remembered. The few pictures I do have (blurry and after-the-fact though they be!) are absolutely priceless to me and something I will cherish forever.  After becoming a doula, I began offering photography to my clients because I knew how precious those photos would be to them someday. That passion only grew with time until I realized that capturing my client’s unique journey through the birth process and the joy of those first moments was just as important to me as supporting and sharing in those moments as a doula.  Now, my greatest joy is to come alongside couples and provide not only skilled labor support, but also beautiful documentation of their childbirth journey. As a child, I held the lantern high to provide needed light for the laboring mama. As doula and photographer, my role now is strikingly similar. I come alongside and shine the light on you as you do the hard work of bringing your baby into the world. As doula, I offer physical, educational, and emotional support throughout the process. As photographer, I capture pictures and forever preserve some of the most amazing moments of your life.