photograph by INDIA EARL

What first drew me to photography was the idea that I could hold fast to moments by clicking a singular button, within my two hands, and that was pretty powerful. This was before my love of film of course, we’re talking disposable. I moved around the city as a child and wanted to have my fleeting friendships documented, in albums, and one-hour photo allowed me to do that - a lot. In college, I basically lived in the darkroom, developing my own film and shooting inanimate objects in pursuit of a BFA.

Eventually, I got into digital photography, shooting my first wedding in 2010. Kaley from Kansas came to be in 2012, but I didn’t pursue photography full time until 2017 when I quit my job and flew to Scotland to marry my best friend. It was one of the most invigorating moments of my life. I felt a sense of release & freedom — no longer in an environment that wasn’t life-giving.

In hindsight, I remember times of being drawn to photography in other ways, such as walking through my Grandparents home and seeing photos of them back when they were falling in love and thinking, “I wish I knew them then, I wonder what they were like.” Or buying vintage photographs of strangers - the ones with the scalloped edges and the dates stamped across the side. I loved the way they made me feel, even without knowing who they were. This was my first introduction into the idea of storytelling - photographing couples and really preserving youth and love - I just didn’t know it yet.

Now being in my thirties and having so much life experience + being married myself, I feel like I can relate and connect with my subjects over something greater than our favorite tv show. I can relate to them over the stresses of wedding planning, home buying, loss, renovations, friendship, etc. I’ve had experiences that have really shaped me and have certainly taught me a lot about humanity and the way I choose to view the world. I have been lucky enough to photograph hundreds of weddings, engagements, babies, families, mothers, humans, all around the world.

My Why

I knew how limited education was when I was coming into my career so I started teaching mentorships back in 2018. I have loved every minute of it - being one on one with another artist whether in my city or theirs. Yet, I knew I could expand this into more of an educational experience - a platform. One that is more approachable - more in depth, that covers all of my core values and more.

Over the years, I have taught at conferences, workshops, summits - been on podcasts and the like. It’s been incredible sharing in this way but I was getting pulled into this new direction, a way to teach exactly the way I wanted — a platform that is not only streamlined and full of knowledge, but is a treat visually.

I have a love for design — interiors, typography, color, shape, texture. It’s apparent in my work in subtle ways, but you can also notice it in the way that I photograph my in-home sessions, architecture, landscapes, my own home, as well as my KFK brand.

I know that when I sit down to learn something virtually, I not only want my heart and mind to be expanded, I want my eyes to be awe-struck and dancing across each page, each letter, each place you go, I want it to be a sensory experience - as much as it can be without being in person learning hands-on. There’s a time and place for that as well.

I started Have Heart as a home for creatives to come and feel seen and be inspired. To uplift and encourage. To find themselves again, or for the first time. To be re-awakened.