I want a bite of....booking a plane ticket at the last minute and extending vacations

Uruguay was an unplanned, last minute trip. Amsterdam was spontaneous as well. I have extended my stay in Mexico numerous times


In the past three years I have traveled to over 16 different countries, some of them multiple times. I love to travel and I seemingly never, ever get tired of it. I love everything about it. Everything.The excitement of learning about new cultures, meeting new people, experiencing new cuisine, and seeing new sights feeds the adventurous part of my soul. I have an insatiable curiosity about how the world lives. I consider the airport my second home.
I have always wanted to experience the excitement of taking a flight at the last minute and now I can say I have. In fact, just a few months ago I was spending time working on my writing at a coffee shop in LA when I received an e-mail asking if I wanted to fly to NYC in a matter of hours to take photographs for an organization. I could hardly contain my excitement as I booked a ticket and rushed home to pack. Hours later, without much sleep but living on the fumes of adrenaline, I was shooting in the heart of Manhattan. Others seemed shocked at how I was able to have the energy to do it. I was shocked anyone would consider not doing it. How could you pass up a free last minute trip? I made a few calls and met up with some NYC friends for the night after the photo shoot. I smiled thinking of how 24 hours ago I didn't know I would be where I was. The next day I took a bus to Boston as I was running the marathon in 2 days.
I've also wanted to experience the excitement of extending a trip. I have now done this numerous times. One of the benefits of working for yourself is flexibility. Flexibility to change plans at the last minute. I have extended stays in Mexico, Argentina, parts of the US and elsewhere. On my way home from Africa two years ago I flew through London and I ended up not getting on the flight home in order to stay in London for a few days. I can honestly say that I have never, ever regretted extending a vacation. Never.

I want a bite of....being inspired

Who and what inspires you?

Two days ago I found myself having lunch with a young businessman whose work I admire. At one point I made a comment to him about how as an entrepreneur I consider him to be a risk taker in life. His response was that he considers it much more risky to let others define your life and determine how you spend your hours. This thought has been swimming in my mind ever since. I love being challenged by others. It is in community that we truly learn how to be better people. The Bible says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another"

For me, the biggest inspiration comes from the lives that other people lead. I love the experience of looking into the eyes of others and wondering what their lives are like. To be able to actually find out is an experience that feeds my soul and nurtures my mind.
I have been blessed to meet some amazing people in my life. Yes, I have met some of the wealthy and famous of this world. However, those that inspire me most are often those that are without riches and fame. They are the unknown that give of themselves for a greater purpose. It is the young man who gave up a life of riches for the less fortunate in Africa. The older woman who went to live amongst the homeless of skid row. The friend who is always there for you whenever you need anything. The young American wife who decided to befriend the prostitutes in Thailand because she knew they weren't so different from her after all. The suburban mother who gives of herself daily to raise her children. These people all face fear and selfishness in the face and decide to fight against it every day. I am forever grateful for these people. We are blessed by them even though we are often unaware of it. Thank you to those that inspire the world to be more, do more, and live more fully.



With the First Lady of Uganda and Hands of Hope hearing aboutinitiatives to help the people.

I want a bite of....Whole Foods & other Gourmet Markets

I am a Whole Foods and gourmet food market addict. I simply cannot deny how much I love it and so I'm not going to. Even when traveling I'll seek out food markets to get a taste of the culture I am visiting. It is an informative experience to see how people shop and I think you can tell a lot by what people buy. For example, if you looked in my cart you could probably gather enough evidence to determine that I am single, health conscious, and creative.


The creative options that I encounter while grocery shopping are seemingly end less. As I linger in each and every section, my mind fills with endless possibilities of culinary creations. Numerous ideas for meals and themed dinner parties circulate in my mind as my eyes take in all of the colors, smells, and textures of the gorgeous produce. Although some detest grocery shopping, I find the entire experience to be relaxing and enjoyable. Lists are rarely made and certainly never stuck to as I always walk out with something unplanned for.

I straight up admit that I spend too much money on food and that I routinely buy items that I had never heard of and probably won't even finish. I have to try a bite of everything. Every new taste is a new experience and I want to experience it all. Maple Bacon ice cream? Sounds rather disgusting and yet I still bought it. I had to try it. I took a few bites, put it back in the freezer, and never ate it again. Was the $4 that I spent on those few bites worth it? The answer is, of course, yes. My curious and creative mind finds satisfaction with these new experiences. I know what vanilla ice cream tastes like and although it is delicious, I'm always going to buy the most unusual flavor. If I don't like it, I'll ask for a bite of whatever you have.

I want a bite of...changing careers

I spent four years and thousands of dollars to earn a college degree in Education. I taught for a few years and went on to spend two more years and thousands of dollars more to obtain a Masters degree in Education. I then immediatley quit my career in teaching and became a photographer. Some people would think I'm crazy for doing this. I think it would be crazy if I hadn't.

You see, I had the opportunity to travel to Africa with a non-profit organization called Hands of Hope when I was in graduate school. We were going to visit the school that this organization had built for the poor in a rural area in Zambia. I went as a teacher and came back as a photographer. I had brought my camera with on the trip and took pictures of the people we encountered. The founder of Hands of Hope liked my photographs so much that she asked to use them to raise money. I, of course, said yes and months later found out that the organization made thousands of dollars off of my photographs. The photograph that made the most money is a photograph of a young boy, David, with his chicken. People began to ask for my website and a career change inevitably ensued.


I have thought often about the true meaning of life and what matters most. My conclusion? Faith. People. Love. These are the three things that come up time and again. They are what motivate and inspire my work and ultimately my purpose for living. I love the experience of looking deep into the eyes of the faces I meet and wondering what their life experience is. Often faces can mask the truth of what a person feels and has experienced. A smile can mask the pain hidden beneath. As a photographer, I take the time to get to know people and wait until a look on their face is given that provides a glimpse into their soul. To be able to actually find out people's story, and to document it in photograph and story, is an experience that feeds my soul and gives purpose to the work I do. I consider it an absolute blessing and privilege when I am given the opportunity to do so. This is why I want to travel the world taking photographs of people and telling their story. Stories that matter and inspire.

Perhaps I won't earn enough money to make it as a photographer for years and years. Perhaps the opportunities will fade away. However, for now, and for as long as the door to this opportunity remains open, I will gladly pursue it. I never once thought I would do the same thing for my entire life. Life is too short and I have too many interests. I just pray that I can continue to do what I enjoy and to do something that makes a difference in the lives of others. I will continually walk through the doors of opportunity.