Personal: Born in Vietnam and raised in France, I moved to the United States from France in June of 1986. Photography is a huge part of me. I started photography in 1978 with my first Nikkormat 35mm camera. I started developing my own film in the darkroom in 1979 (I was 8). My parents were huge influences on me, especially my Dad since he was an avid photographer as well. I grew up with music, art, and fashion so those are still today things that I find fascinating and are still have a huge impact on my life today. I have travelled the world, I have been on all 7 continents and have seen things that most people can only imagine and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I started college in January of 1987 majoring in Fine Arts in Indiana. I was going to be a starving artist because that was “what life was about”. As a backup to Starving Artist plan, I did also get my BSE in Mechanical Engineering and did graduate work in Industrial Engineering at Arizona State University. It turns out that it did come in handy for a few years. I married my husband, Eric in July of 1990. We are proud parents to our Shih Tzus, Chloe (11) and Bentley (7), Sophie (1), and Lily (9 months)
Professional: We moved from Arizona to Texas in October, 2006. My Cedar Park studio was completed in November,2007, that is when I officially became a Texas-based photographer. I am currently sponsored by several companies(FJ Westcott, BWC, Profoto, Pocket Wizard, Sekonic) to teach photogaphy to both professionals and amateurs. I am best known for my lighting styles and that is what I teach the most. I started talking with Amherst Media Publishing about writing a book on lighting and so..I am now writing a book as well. That is much harder that I thought. Huge commitment. Loving the challenge. Coming from the world of fashion (through my mom and myself), I have been fortunate to discover and grow several successful full time models who now have been modeling around the world, I am so proud of them. I have also been fortunate to know and mentor numerous photographers in the US as well as outside of the US and help them build their studios. I love what I do and I hope that you see that when you look at my work.
I am now the 2011 Chairman of the Board for the Austin Professional Photographer’s Association (Austin PPA) as well as a member of the Texas PPA and National PPA associations. I am also a member of Wedding and Portrait Professionals International (WPPI). I am actively involved in all of these organizations and I really enjoy them all. I was very excited to be given the title of PPA International Photographer of the Year 2011 this past year. How fortunate. I am also honored to have been awarded the Photographer of the Year award for three years in a row (2011,2010, 2009) by the Austin Professional Photographers Association. I am the recipient of both FUJI and Kodak awards and that was so cool! As a portrait artist, I am proud to say that I have won Best Portrait at SWPPA two years in a row (2011, 2010). That was so exciting. There were so many talented photographers there from so many states and for me to win those has been a huge honor. I look forward to many more years of making portraits, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love for a job day in and day out.
I am planning on showing my travel work and my fine art portraits soon on a new site that is coming soon.
I believe that photographs of our families are the most important part of our histories. I want to create a piece that you are proud of now and that your children will love having of you one day. I know that all the photos that I have of my parents and my family are my most valuable treasures.
I look forward to creating a portrait for you and your family.