The Story of a Fighter
Growing up I always thought I wanted to go into the medical field. I had intentions of going to medical school to become a doctor or obtaining my nurse practitioner license. That goal later became unobtainable when I was diagnosed with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL for short), a rare genetic disease that causes tumors to develop throughout the body. This diagnosis resulted in a slew of brain and spinal cord neurosurgeries, ultimately resulting in me becoming paralyzed in 2015. Due to my spinal cord tumors, I ambulate via a power wheelchair and require assistance with many daily tasks that most able-bodied individuals are able to complete independently.
After my paralysis, I became very depressed and fell into a dark hole. The little ambition I had left to do anything was gone. I felt like my life was over and I could no longer do anything because I wasn’t “normal” anymore. In October of 2016, I came across a Nikon camera deal and decided to purchase it to challenge myself into learning photography. While I always enjoyed taking pictures, I can say that my true passion for photography was discovered when I bought this equipment a year after my paralysis. I spent the following six months teaching myself through books and YouTube videos until I did my first real photoshoot in April of 2017. From the time I bought the Nikon DSLR, I learned how easily photography has helped lessen my depression through my ability to be able to interact with people and establish a connection throughout their sessions.
While VHL has drastically changed my life, this is where I discovered my love for photography and graphic design. Although I taught myself the intricacies of photography, I graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor’s degree in graphic design and media arts. I may have chosen differently without my paralysis, but I knew I needed to choose a less physically demanding career path, and what better combination than two of my greatest passions? My long-term goal is to incorporate my photography and graphic design skills into a fulfilling business that I can run from anywhere. Put simply, living with VHL has been both a blessing and a curse, but without it, I know I would have never of found my hidden interests, nor would I have the opportunity to potentially work with you.
My photography work can be seen published in the following magazines:
Ignite Magazine: Boudoir Special Edition - January 2021
Vigour Magazine: NUDE & Boudoir | February Edition 2021 - January 2021
Edith Glamour Magazine: The Art of Boudoir #23 - January 20th, 2021
PENIDA Magazine: Open Theme / Feb. Issue 2021 - February 5th, 2021
XANY Magazine: NUDE & BOUDOIR | February Edition - February 17th, 2021
Visual Diary: Showcase 1 - Glamour, Boudoir, Nude, and Film Photography - February 25th, 2021
XPRESSIONS Magazine: APRIL OPEN THEME - February 25th, 2021
Edith Magazine: Open Theme - June 17th, 2021
MOVEUX Magazine: Open Theme | July 2021 - June 29th, 2021
SURREAL FIT Magazine: Fitness Submissions – October 25th, 2021
Edith Glamour Magazine: Glamour 107 - November 3rd, 2021
Beautica Magazine: Open Theme | December 2021 - December 8th, 2021
Edith Magazine: #593 - March 14th, 2022
SURREAL Lifestyle Magazine: FIT LIFESTYLE - April 13th, 2022
Maxi Magazines: Boudoir Edition - October Issue 3, 2022
Stylecruze Magazine: Halloween (Volume - 02), October 20th, 2022
Magnifique Magazine: Issue 157 Dnae Dana - October 30th, 2022
6X Glamour Magazine: Glamour Vol - 45, November 17th, 2022
6X Magazine: Active Fit - Vol - 83, June 13th, 2024
Untold Stories Image Magazine: Flexing With Faith - June Issue 1, July 7th, 2024
