About Me

Hi, I’m Mandy and I’m a wife and mother to the most wonderful little family I could’ve ever dreamt up. We live in Anchorage, Alaska where beauty and adventure surrounds us everywhere we look. This region suits me well as I’m not particularly great at sitting still but if you do catch me being relatively stationary, I’m most likely drawing, crafting, reading, or daydreaming about future travel plans. At my core, I’m a creative person and you will find me dabbling in all kinds of artistic hobbies on any given day. The process of creation is my happy place.

I first started learning film photography with my dad when I was around 10 years old, then switched to digital when I was 20, and found my way back to film again when my kids were around 3 years old. I still develop and scan my own black and white film at home and will always include one of these rolls in a session. I’ve been shooting and playing with the analog process for almost half of my life now and can’t wait to share the joy I find in it with you!

Why Film?

I shoot film for two main reasons. The first reason is because working in analog allows me to be more present in the moment that I’m capturing. That alone is worth every penny to me. I don’t let the perfectionist in me step on my own feet because it’s simply not an option. I can’t see the result of what I just captured, I just have to trust in the process and be open to accepting whatever may result. Not everything works every time (does it ever?), but mostly it’s magic. I find that shooting film is both a humbling and gratifying experience, and that has made me fall in love with the medium.

Secondly, for aesthetic reasons, I prefer film over digital because I can just “feel” the resulting images more. Sometimes, I’ll experiment with double exposures or play sorceress for a night while I “soup” some film in a concoction of my brewing. I simply love the raw grain, the shock of a light leak, and the dreamy softness of motion that results from film. It feels like peering into someone’s memories and it’s the most wonderful surprise to realize that they’re MY precious moments in life. I want to capture this beautiful experience for you and your family!

What to Expect

Prior to the session, we’ll be touching base to collaborate and make sure we’re on the same page for our mutual artistic visions. Do you like the unpredictability of light leak placement, enjoy the occasional weirdness of double exposures, or swoon over the colors and textures of film soup? Or do you prefer the more clean and simple documentary approach? We’ll address these considerations during our initial consultation before moving into discussing locations, wardrobes, etc.

For a family or newborn session, please be aware that I will push for these to be captured in your home and yard. This is where I find people at their most comfortable and therefore, most open to being themselves. Let’s face it, it can feel awkward trying to act like models in a public area (just ask teenagers doing their Senior photos!) and hoping your kids don’t draw even more attention to your impeccably dressed family frolicking through a field!

If you decide to book a family or newborn session with me, you can expect a laid back couple of hours letting scenes unfold as they may. I will not rush us because I know very well how life is with kids, and I want to take my time to get it right! While I will subtly direct on occasion, my real main focus will be allowing space for authenticity. I may plop you and your family in a beautiful spot of light (and yes, I may ask you to move a distracting piece of furniture) and then step back to observe your interactions with each other. It’s my job to set and capture the scene, it’s your job to just be yourself!