13 Years Documenting the Arts
MOCAD’s 20th Gala
2026 has given me so much to be grateful for, including the opportunity to welcome new photography clients into my practice and spend more time documenting the arts in Detroit and Metro Detroit. It has felt so good to feed this part of my studio again!
As I head into my 13th year photographing the arts, I keep thinking about all of the people, spaces, and experiences this work has connected me to. There is something really special about being invited back by longtime clients and getting to build relationships with new ones. Thank you for continuing to think of me, share my name, and trust me to document the things you have put so much care into.
Much of my studio practice is sustained by freelance photography. These projects help fund the materials, time, and space that go into my fiber work and personal projects—the experimenting, sewing, researching, and figuring things out that happen behind the scenes. When you hire me, you are also helping make that work possible, and I am incredibly grateful for that support.
This work feeds me creatively, too. I love walking into a space and seeing what people have brought to life. From beautiful galas to gallery openings and portraits of artists with their exhibitions, I get to spend time with people who are making things happen in our arts community. I know how much work goes into getting to those moments, and it means a lot to be the person invited to photograph them.
I also think about where these photographs will live years from now. My own artwork often begins with family photographs and archives, so I spend a lot of time considering what an image can hold and what we might learn from it later. That carries into how I approach photographing the arts.
An exhibition comes down, an evening wraps up, and everyone moves on to the next project. The photographs become part of what remains: the artwork, the people in the room, the excitement, and the little interactions that might otherwise be forgotten. Getting to contribute to the documentation of our communities’ art history, right here in Detroit and Metro Detroit, is something I care deeply about.
To everyone who has welcomed me into their spaces this year: thank you so very much. I have loved getting to know your teams, celebrating your work, and being a small part of what you are building. I am excited to see what is ahead and grateful to keep making photographs alongside you.
If you are looking for photography for an upcoming arts event, gala, exhibition, or artist portrait session, you can find more information about my services and get in touch through my Arts & Event Photography page. I would love to hear what you are planning!
Photos from MOCAD’s 20th Gala and Crandemonium 2026.
