Blog #4- Neurodivergence, Tradition, and the Art of Seeing Differently

For most of my life… I’ve felt different.

This constant feeling in my gut that I was not the same as others. I didn’t get the jokes, never cared for the TV shows or activities everyone else always seemed to be into etc. It wasn’t until adulthood that I was diagnosed with ADHD and highly suspect myself to be on the autism spectrum… suddenly, so much made sense. The masking I’d place to survive — to seem “normal,” agreeable, consistent — had quietly taken a toll on my mental health.

But alongside the grief of lost time came clarity, freedom, and a strange kind of power: the realization that my neurodivergence isn't something to hide — it’s something I can use. Especially in my work as a documentary-style wedding and family photographer.

Me in my happy place with my #1 guy- Ben

The cost of masking & why I choose to diverge from tradition

What is masking?

Masking means you metaphorically place a mask over the very core of who you truly are in order to blend in and fit seamlessly with those around you. This was something I never even clued into that I was doing until much later in life. This realization came during a photography course where I was challenged to dig deep and figure out who I really was and what my core values were. I sat there, reflecting, and suddenly it hit me—I didn’t truly know who I was beneath all the layers of these masks. I had always been able to “chameleon” myself, effortlessly adapting to those around me by adopting their interests or hobbies… even if I didn’t truly have a passion for them.

This realization was actually the catalyst that set me on the path toward seeking a diagnosis. After receiving it, I became painfully aware of how trapped I’d been, burdened by the many false masks I had worn over the years. I soon concluded I wasn’t living the life I genuinely wanted to live. It was in this struggle that my real self-discovery bloomed.

I’ve absolutely love how this incredible journey has gradually and beautifully transformed my photography into something genuinely authentic and deeply personal—an expression that, at long last, feels truly and uniquely my own. I now simply find myself drawn to the unpolished, chaotic, deeply meaningful moments that tell a true story. And this is why I deeply love documentary photography as it gives me space to observe vs direct.

I now aim to align myself with families and couples that are interested in my values of diverging from tradition, adventure and connection so I can best services them with these special skills I have honed over the years.

J&J sharing their 1st Dance with all their guests rather than the traditional solo version

Neurodivergent Strengths in Photography

When I am photographing I find my brain is always scanning the room with an almost restless curiosity, quietly noticing subtle patterns and fleeting details that others might completely overlook… like a fleeting glance exchanged between people, the intricate, unspoken rhythm of a heartfelt conversation, the delicate and tender way hands curl gently around one another.

I don’t just aim to take photos; I deeply feel and absorb the energy vibrating in the room. I move intuitively trying to sense those rare, beautiful moments that truly deserve to be captured and preserved during your wedding or family session. I try to seamlessly blend into the background, not just because I want to — but because I genuinely can, slipping in and out like an invisible thread weaving your stories.

It’s an instinctive, almost survivalist part of how I’ve always navigated and thrived in my life up until this point. Today, this unique way of perceiving the world forms the very foundation of how I create connection, adventure filled and wonderfully divergent images for my couples and families!

I love spending time with families in their own homes as it often allows kids to feel more relaxed, and less performative

Unmasking is inherently messy, unpredictable, and often feels deeply layered with complexity. It’s rarely comfortable, especially in a world that constantly prioritizes polished facades over the genuine, raw reality that thrives beneath the surface. But the more I consciously let go of who I thought I needed to be—the imposed expectations and societal pressures of how things “should be”—the more space and freedom I create within myself to create beautiful images for my clients.

This space allows me to truly see and connect with others in their fullest most beautiful and authentic forms.

“That’s the very core, the beating heart of what I offer through my photography… a safe, welcoming, and nurturing space where people are genuinely encouraged, fully accepted, and wholeheartedly allowed to be completely and authentically themselves.”

And perhaps, just maybe, this entire journey truly begins with me embracing who I really am and allowing myself to be fully, unapologetically myself. No filters, masks to hold me back from capturing you!