Being Seen

When I started my weight loss journey, I was over 400 lbs. I had been in decent shape through high school and into my early twenties—active, lifting, playing sports here and there. So being in a gym wasn’t new to me, but coming back at that size, after years of gaining weight, felt like stepping into the past with a heavier present. One morning while warming up on the turf, a woman around my age came over and said, “I just wanted to tell you you’re awesome.” At the time, it felt… strange. Like I was being praised for existing. But over the years, that moment has stuck with me. Now I see it for what it was—someone recognizing effort and offering kindness.

That moment reminds me a lot of what I try to capture through my photography: not just beauty, but recognition. The quiet, real kind. A still lake before the wind picks up. A canyon wall catching the day’s first light. These are moments that don’t shout—but they speak. They tell you, you’re here, and that matters.

My work—like my journey—is about showing up when it’s uncomfortable, putting in the reps, and learning to see things clearly. Whether it’s behind the lens or in front of the mirror, the goal is the same: find the truth, and let it be enough.

If that resonates with you, I invite you to check out my available prints and bring a little bit of that truth into your own space.