Life tells us a story. We pick up bits and pieces along the way, weaving in context and interpretation in order to find meaning.

Photographs help us linger over those bits and pieces, telling us stories about people, places and things. And they tell us those stories through the lens of the photographer, both literally and figuratively. As renowned Life and National Geographic photographer Joe McNally puts it, "the camera looks both ways".

My life experiences, values and aspirations - and even biases - make up the lens through which I craft my stories. They influence my choice of setting, subjects, backgrounds and lighting. They affect how I interact with my clients and partners. They even guide my editing choices. And it shows - in the way I conduct my shoots, in the way I run my business and in the final images I produce.

Knowing all that, I thought it would be a good idea to become more intentional about my "lens selection". So I came up with some statements to help guide me on my journey. Together these statements make up a manifesto, which goes like this:

My work is about connection, collaboration and community. From this foundation I strive to:

• Capture the true essence of my subject
• Create images that connect people to the world around us, to one another and to themselves
• Help all of us see that we are a necessary part of the web of life
• Inspire viewers of my work to find beauty and meaning in their lives
• Be honest and authentic in my storytelling
• Form bonds with my those I meet along my journey
• Be of value and service to the earth, to the global and local community

My hope is that as I become more and more true to this manifesto my images will be more memorable and more importantly, meaningful. I welcome you all to walk with me on this path.

November 2016