I’m Aubrey.

Whether you’re browsing or a friendly face, thank you for coming to read my story:

I have been taking photos since I had an iPod touch back in 2015. The classic water droplets, spider webs, flowers- you name it. I loved that I could capture the myriad of things around me and know I was in that moment, forever stuck in time on a tiny screen.

Come high school, I was photographing my friends and family events just for fun. Being able to capture a moment of people who meant so much to me was so mesmerizing.

In my adult life, I have wondered why it meant so much to me. As a little girl, I endured poverty, was subjected to hoarding, homelessness, facing addicts, the foster care system, and not one, but two adoptions. I never had a moment to pause. Never a moment of calming reflection.

With so much animosity, there wasn’t a time I could look back at the few childhood photos I had and remember that feeling of joy, let alone nostalgia.

Backtrack to high school, I decided to take a photography class. I always loved drawing and painting, so I thought why not give it a shot? I learned about Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, how to use a camera manually (yes- it’s not just point and shoot!), and was then guided to one of the greatest memories to date.

As a class, we were encouraged to submit our work to the Congressional Art Competition. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

In 2019, I submitted a photo I had taken of my brother. By the grace of whichever God you believe in, I won first place in the Vermont district and was flown off to D.C. By another grace, COVID allowed the piece to stay hung up in the Capitol for not one, but two years.

Hearing such encouraging words from my friends, family, and peers gave me the confidence to work harder. I freelanced work in my late teens and early 20s, building connections in my communities. I have worked with clients celebrating life-altering moments: graduation, engagements, and marriage.

For them to have those moments paused in one shot means the universe to me- not just the world. I can give people the nostalgia, emotion, and everlasting happiness that everyone wants when looking back at photos 10 to 50 years from now.

Photography has become one of the greatest enjoyments I have in life. I have been able to photograph the beautiful wedding of my first-ever wedding clients from rural New Hampshire, Gabrielle & Eric, all the way to Hollywood stars, like Tai Verdes.

To those who have read this far: thank you for reading, enduring, and soaking in all the passion I have for this art form.

To the little girl who didn’t have a fraction of joy to reflect on her childhood photos: don’t worry. You will find that same type of joy by gifting others photos that last them many lifetimes to come.