Starting at a very young age, I had a strong calling to document as many things as I could throughout my life with the intent of holding onto as many memories as possible. I took so many photos, recorded so much video, wrote countless journal entries, and had my mom save as many random school assignments and art projects that she could. Every time I recorded any of these random moments I would think to myself, “I’m going to look back on this one day and smile.” Crazy that I had that mindset so young.

This last Mother’s Day, my grandma got out her laptop to show us some old videos of my siblings and me when we were younger. Within the memories was a folder of a ton of old photos and videos I had recorded around 2009ish.

The most special part about these photos and videos that I took is that I didn’t choose to document any “special” moments at all. No birthdays or holidays or family trips in this batch of memories. Just the everyday life that I was living at the time, which to me is just as special.

I’ve always been my family’s documenter. Even as my grandma was plugging in the laptop, I was recording a video of my sister playing the guitar at the dining table. If that doesn’t scream, “I was destined to be a photographer,” I don’t know what does. I’m so thankful to be living in a time where I can document memories through the art of photography- whether it be mine or someone else’s :)