happy father’s day - 2025

Happy Father’s Day, Papa.

Today I saw someone post, “Dad, I hope you’re proud of me.”
And it brought back a memory I hadn’t revisited in a while.

In 2019, I was being awarded my Master Artist degree by the Professional Photographers of America—a milestone that recognized years of effort, creativity, and growth. I asked my dad to be the one to present the degree. PPA suggests choosing someone who has deeply impacted your artistic journey. For me, that was an easy choice. My father was an artist himself. While he had always treated my photography and painting as more of a “cute hobby,” I knew he’d influenced my creative path more than anyone else.

My parents flew to Atlanta for the ceremony. When we stepped into that awards ballroom—several hundred people, live broadcast, a full Oscar-style production—I saw his face change. He was overwhelmed by the scale of it. I held his arm tightly as we walked on stage, gently coaching him through each step when he forgot what to do. And in that moment, something shifted. I saw him really see me—not as a kid with a camera, but as an artist being recognized by her peers. After that night, he was more engaged with my work, more curious. Quiet pride turned into something visible.

He passed away a year and a half ago, long before things started feeling a bit more real and steady in this strange full-time art life. I think he'd be proud that I'm still showing up, still creating, still trying. And still remembering.

I wouldn’t have done any of this without him.