So I’ve been thinking…if you are paying someone to spend several hours with your family, capturing personal moments, shouldn’t you know more about the person behind the camera?  So here goes.

Some random facts about me:

1. I am painfully shy.  Yep, that’s right.  Unfortunately, my shyness has been misinterpreted as being “stuck up” or rude.  I am really neither.  As I’m getting older, and with great help from my husband, it’s much easier to be outgoing.
2. I’ve never taken an official photography course.  My friend Lezlie did sneak me in as a model for one of her portrait lighting classes at TCTC.  When I got my first DSLR camera, I wanted to take courses but couldn’t really afford them at the time.  I am mostly self-taught.  There are unlimited completely FREE resources on the web for learning photography.  And there are tons of others that are affordable.  Hopefully, one day I will post about a few resources.
3. I am the baby of the family.  And I am spoiled.  I’m also the only granddaughter on my mother’s side of the family.  My grandfather used to say that he has 3 worthless grandsons but one golden girl who could outwork them all.  I think I had him snowed!
4. I’m a self-proclaimed nerd and I love to teach.  I am an information junkie and love to share what I’ve learned with anyone who will listen.  Even if I’m not teaching kids, I’m always finding ways to help educate others.  I’m itching to teach a Photo 101 class for newbies.  My husband tells me I give away way too much information for free.  I can’t help it.  It’s instinct.
5. I am an Amateur Radio Operator (Ham Radio)…and so are my dad, his father, his brothers, his nephew, and my brother.  My call sign is KI4UZX.
6. If you couldn’t afford a photo session, I would gladly accept payment in the following forms:  Dr Pepper, Ruffled Chips with Dean’s French Onion Dip, or Papa John’s Pizza with ham and green peppers.
7. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in June of 1999 (before my Junior year in college).  Since receiving treatment, I have maintained wonderful health.  It does not interfere with my daily life and thankfully, I do not have the horror stories that many people have with the disease.
8. We have 2 indoor Border Collies who are like our children, both of which are trained to herd sheep (like in the move Babe).  We’ve also trained them to do things for us because we are lazy.  Sometimes one dog accidentally closes herself into a bedroom and can’t get out.  We’ve trained the other to open the door and let her out so that we don’t have to.
9. I am a procrastinator.  It’s genetic.  Very few people in my family work efficiently without deadlines.
10. I am a rule follower.  They make me feel safe and secure.  But I’m a “wall” breaker.  I like to challenge barriers created by ignorance or prejudice.  I like to find new ways to do things even if it changes the way we’ve always done it.
11. I have a dream of becoming a secret philanthropist.  I want to become wealthy and secretly pay bills, buy groceries, and do other wonderful things for people who need it.  My mom used to work for a small-businessman who did the same thing (Mr. Allen Riddle).  And the generosity of others has been demonstrated to my family in our times of need.  I’ve always wanted to do same.
12. My faith in Jesus Christ has made all the difference in my life.  It has only been in the last couple of years that I have learned that Christianity isn’t about rules…rather it’s about showing love to people the same way that Christ loved us.

So, now maybe your head can be filled with as much random knowledge as mine!