Color has shaped how I see the world for most of my life. As a licensed hairstylist for nearly 25 years, color theory was never abstract—it was tactile, emotional, and human. I spent years behind the chair studying undertone, contrast, warmth, coolness, and how light interacts with skin and texture. That path led me into national education, teaching color theory across the country, and eventually into leadership as an education director and brand leader for a professional hair color company.
Photography feels both like a continuation of that same study and something brand new—expressed through light instead of pigment.
This collaborative photo shoot became a quiet reminder of how much those foundations continue to guide my eye, and how much there still is to learn. Photography asks that instinct to slow down and observe even deeper.
Learning Through Creative Collaboration
Years of hair color education sharpen the instinct to notice subtle shifts quickly.
Working with models, movement, confidence, and tone while editing models introduces complexity that and I am excited to continue to learn more. Movement alters light. Emotion shifts posture. Confidence changes everything. Years of working closely with people—reading energy, guiding without force, allowing expression— I have found translates naturally into photography. I allow my camera to simply follow what’s already there.
Light as the Teacher
Lighting was the greatest lesson of this shoot. Different modifiers, placements, and intensities transformed the same space into entirely different stories. That realization followed me home, where I expanded my lighting setup—not to accumulate gear, but to better support storytelling through photography. Tools are extensions of vision. Chosen thoughtfully, a highly recommend to help me deepen clarity and intention.
A Lifelong Artist, Still Learning
Teaching color theory for more than a decade instilled a core truth: the most effective educators and artists remain students. This collaborative photo shoot reinforced that belief. Hair led me to color. Color led me to light. Light continues to lead me forward. Grateful for the foundations. Grateful for the room. Grateful for how much more there is to learn.