About Me

With a love for hardware stores, crafting supplies and photography, I prefer country roads to city streets. I also prefer the company of 5 little people and their daddy over anyone else. As I celebrate day to day life with my family, I find myself in awe of God’s creative works surrounding me.

In 2008, I stepped back from the professional side of photography and began teaching introduction to photography courses (SnapShops in person). During that change, I discovered my photography blog would take me down an unpredicted road.

On my blog, Under the Sycamore, I strive to demonstrate how beautiful the mundane days of life can be. In the midst of 5 young kids creating wonderful (but messy) chaos, I use photography as a tool to celebrate the not so glamorous moments in life. I hope to encourage my blog readers (and SnapShop students) to pick up their cameras and document the little things that make up their days.

I aim to help others celebrate and find the wonder in the regular. Believing that creativity is essential for me as an individual, as an artist and as a mom, I hope to inspire others to find time to pick up their camera, their craft supplies and get a little messy celebrating everyday life.

I was formerly a monthly DIY contributor on Design*Sponge and Design Aglow. You can find some of my other creative works on Apartment Therapy, CafeMom, The Sweetest Occasion, PoppyTalk, Craftzine, Curbly, Readymade, Women’s Day, FreshStyle, NBC New York, PetaPixel, Real Simple and other design publications.

Here is my sweet family captured by Ann Bennett Photography:

 

Here is a glimpse into my camera bag (and computer):

Canon EOS 5D(these are a thing of the past, the new model is a Canon EOS 5D Mark II )

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM– this is the lens I use 90% of the time. It gives me great aperture settings, but also works for wide angle and portraits.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM- my favorite portrait lens

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM

Canon 30D

Canon 28mm USM f/1.8

Canon Speedlight 580 EX

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop

Totally Rad Actions & RadLab

Lots of Design Aglow products

Lots of Pugly Pixel products