A short promotional film I made for my friends and partners, Dar Al Kalima University, during a visit to Bethlehem in late 2023. This university is the only higher education campus in the region offering comprehensive study in art, culture and design. Absolutely love this place and the hope and vision they offer the community.

I had the honor and privilege to travel to Kauai and document a very special week for a very special group of young women. They all share a common bond of having a form of limb loss or limb difference. Through this common bond they have a place where each attendee can empathize with one another’s unique challenges and connect in a special way. It’s the ultimate summer camp for these ladies in one of the most beautiful places on the earth.

It was an incredible, transformative week for these amazing ladies. They spent the week doing some really unique, cool activities together. This included unset swimming/surfing in majestic Hanalei Bay, hand-making flower leis, morning workouts with personal trainers, devouring some incredible meals by local chefs, their own private luau, worship and prayer times together, getting hair and make-up done for their own portraits, and many other incredible island adventures…

What a treat to have this week-long refuge of joy and community that is created and crafted just for them. They can pour their hearts out to one another over the daily trials they endure and fears they have for the future, then two minutes later belly laugh over the goofiest things only they can relate to. Above it all, the Beautifully Flawed retreat is an affirmation to these precious ladies that that God is always with them, sees and loves each one intimately, and will be their rock through all the trials they may face. 

On a personal note, this week was so incredibly life-giving and fulfilling. Spending time with such amazing, resilient, hilarious, and humble women was something I will always carry with me. To hear their vulnerable stories, watch them ride those waves or do that last push up was so inspiring. Everyone was so warm and inviting. It was so wonderful to connect with so many of them over life, family, dreams, hobbies, and struggles. 

As a photographer, this was the kind of visual storytelling that I feel I was made for: Incredible people with unique stories, Kingdom-focused work, an organization with integrity and human dignity at the core, all while being in incredible places on all ends of this globe. If just one of these boxes is checked, I’m so beyond blessed in my job. But when all are, it’s just the ultimate dream. Capturing these kinds of moments is all I ever wanted to do with my calling. I hope God continues to use me to do so well into the future. 

A giant MAHALO to the amazing crew at The Beautifully Flawed Foundation and to each and every attendee for welcoming and trusting me with your stories.

Beyond grateful.

 

 

Off and on for the past 15 years, I have traveled to Southern India to work alongside an incredible ministry called Harvest India. One of those trips included a 6-month residency. Along with a handful of close friends, we lived in town, digging deep into the ministry and culture. Our town, Tenali, is about halfway between Chennai and Hyderabad. This area is called the “rice bowl” of the country. There are fields as far as the eye can see all around with tiny villages sprinkled amongst it all.

During our time the ground, we were focused on hands-on ministry with the untouchables.  These beautiful souls are overlooked by most of society, so Harvest India’s mission is to love on them through tangible ways such as food distribution, medical camps, education for orphans, as well as nursing & bible colleges. Just being the hands and feet of Jesus.

I was also capturing photography and video for the ministry and of our everyday lives while living in such a fascinating place.  This country is full of stark contrasts and just incredible beauty… the people, the colors, the animals, the rivers, the textures, etc.

Here are some of my favorite images of the incredible people and places we encountered day to day. There are scenes from our neighborhood, local villages, day to day ministry, and quiet places far in the countryside.