I just got voted as a top photographer in Austin!

This is a story all about how…I became one of the top photographers in a little town called Austin…

Five years ago, I moved to Austin spontaneously. It was the bravest thing I’ve ever done, in my opinion. I didn’t know anyone, I hadn’t even been to the city before! It had just been calling to me, for a while and I finally answered the call (to Gondor). I showed up, slammed down on the pavement, and hell-bent on making waves. It’s been a journey, for sure. I remember how many people told me that I needed to leave Hawaii, for a multitude of reasons. Usually, I was told this after each breakup (and there were a lot of breakups) but I kept fighting it. Call it symptomatic of being twenty-something, but I was so AFRAID. I was afraid of failing, afraid of discovering I was not talented, discovering that I really should just abandon my career. So I avoided leaving Hawaii longer than I should have, hustling myself to death purely out of fear.

I’m not afraid anymore.

Moving to Austin was not only the bravest thing I’ve ever done, but it was the smartest decision I’ve ever made. I remember spending the first night in my apartment, down in South Austin, feeling a mix of excitement and terror all at once. What if I crashed and burned? I didn’t have a lot of money in my account, only a small amount leftover from my canceled trip around the world (thanks shitty ex-husband) and I knew I had three months or less to make money. I started going to 4-5 networking meetings a month, paying out of the ass for advertisements, drinking coffee and beer with all kinds of vendors. And I manifested. I manifested the shit out of success. I visualized success, in the way of booking weddings, meeting awesome people, traveling to dream destinations. My first year here, I booked weddings in Jamaica and Italy. I did over 35 weddings and grew my list of friends.

Since then, I’ve thoroughly established myself as one of the top LGBT-friendly wedding photographers in Austin, if you can’t tell by the uber gay website brand. hah! In the last few years, I’ve worked so damn hard to become a well-known wedding photographer in Austin and luckily, some people have noticed. For example, I’ve been chosen as a top photographer in Austin by Three Best Rated, an independent reviewing website that chooses top businesses in cities. I was chosen back in 2018 and then again for 2021, which you can see below.

Then it was crazy to be chosen as one of the top 25 photographers in Austin!!! Boy, that made my day! You can see that link here! It has been such a wild ride. The amount of goals I’ve accomplished is insane. I’m really proud of myself and above all, grateful that all of those insane hours spent in front of my computer weren’t a waste!

If you’re looking for a photographer, make sure to check out the questions you should be asking potential photographers! Even if you don’t hire me, this list will ensure you ask the right stuff!

Thank you, Austin, Texas.