I am an award winning photographer, director and cinematographer; a visual anthropologist, an athlete, a journalist, a mom, an advocate for women and girls, fluent in Spanish, and a mango fanatic.
I believe photography and film can break down barriers and build bridges whether they are across oceans or between backyards.
I excel at crafting authentic, cinematic and soulful stories.
I began my career as a photojournalist tackling significant social issues for National Geographic Magazine and daily newspapers. I use those same skills working in motion in the commercial, branded content and documentary realm. For me it's about connecting with people. Whether hunting with tribes in the jungles of West Papua or summiting 19,000-foot peaks with adaptive climbers, my work is intimate, layered and soulful, creating relationships and revealing inner lives.
Clients
Budweiser / Facebook / National Geographic Magazine / Google / Honeywell / Cochlear Americas / Conservation International / Columbia Sportswear / Casio / Colorado Dpt of Agriculture / GEO / T Brand Studios / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / National Park Conservation Association / National Wildlife Federation / American Rivers / Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / CF Leads / Community Foundation Serving Boulder County / Forbes / GQ / Latina Magazine / Men's Journal / National Geographic Traveler / The Sunday Times / Sierra Magazine / UNICEF / Womens Foundation of Colorado / 5280 /
Highlights
My Father's Day film for Budweiser created with Stept Studios was the #1 search on YouTube that day and had over 3+ million impressions and 75 PR spots. Plus it brought joy to lots of families, supporting the adoption of stepchildren by their stepdads.
My short film “Noah" won awards at the W3 Awards, Telly Awards, Communicator Awards and the Spirit of Activism Special Jury Award at the Crested Butte Film Festival. It was featured on Upworthy, The Guardian, The Atlantic, RYOT and National Geographic Digital Showcase. Most importantly, it helped Noah to continue in his positive path forward and raise awareness and money for the great work of the Urban Renaissance Center in Flint.
As Co-Director of National Park Experience (NPX), an independent film series celebrating diversity and youth in the National Parks, I created a series of award-winning films that are featured on PBS, Smithsonian Channel, National Geographic, REI.
As the Visiting Artist at the Colorado School of Mines I developed and taught the class "Photography As Activism."
My work filming in West Papua was part of a major media campaign that lead to legislation establishing the worlds first conservation province setting aside massive reserves to protect West Papua’s land and ocean, and return resource rights to indigenous people.
I serve on the board of ELPASO, a Latino parent led organization working to close the educational achievement gap between Latino and Anglo students in Boulder County, Colorado.
Accolades
2020 Gold Telly Winner / Online Commercials General Public Interest / Awareness, Budweiser "Stept-Fathers Day"
2020 Bronze People's Telly Winner / Commercial or Marketing Piece, Budweiser "Stept-Fathers Day"
2019 Winner, Award of Excellence, Impact Doc Awards, "Confluence"
2019 Winner, Award of Excellence, Vegas Movie Awards "Confluence"
2019 Winner, Award of Excellence, IndieFEST Film Awards "Confluence"
2018 Adventure Film Festival Headlining Award "Make Your Own Legends" "Confluence"
2018 Winner, Award of Excellence, IndieFEST Film Awards, "Confluence"
2017 Crested Butte Film Festival Special Jury Award, Spirit of Activism in Cinema "Noah"
2017 Telly Awards, Bronze Award, Online Video/Documentary,"Noah"
2017 Communicator Awards, Award of Distinction, Online Video/Documentary, "Noah"
2017 W3 Awards, "Noah"
2017 Director's Choice Award Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, "Canyon Song"
2017 Cannes Film Festival Shorts, Best Score "La Cumbre"
2017 Award of Merit Best Shorts Competition, "Canyon Song"
2017 Wasatch Mountain Film Festival Social Awareness Award, "Canyon Song"
2016 Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association, recognizing outstanding work that fosters the American public’s understanding of law and the legal system. “No Man’s Land” Denver’s 5280 Magazine
2016 Adventure Filmmaker Title Nomination, Adventure Journal
2015 Second Runner Up “Best Environmental Film” for “Love in the Tetons”Film Festival Flix Mountain & Adventure Film Festival
2015 First Place National Council on Foundations Video Contest for “Rubens Story”
2014 FearLess Women Leading Green Award
2013 Society of Professional Journalists Top of The Rockies, Feature Photography
2011 Blue Earth Alliance Award
2011 The Aftermath Project Grant, Finalist
2010 Anthropographia Multimedia & Human Rights Award
2010 Open Society Institute Audience Engagement Award, Finalist
2010 LOOKbetween Featured Artist, Charlottesville, VA
2009 Center’s Review Santa Fe
2008 Pulitzer Prize Finalist - Part of The Charlotte Observer team for story: Sold a Nightmare
2007 LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph presentee
2007 Young Photographer Award -VISA Pour L'Image, Nominee
2006 Virginia National Photography Association (VNPA), Various awards
2006 Photographic Resource Center, exhibition of 30 artists changing the future of photography
2006 Magnum's Inge Morath Award, Finalist
2006 National Geographic Magazine Internship
2005 Society for News Design, Award of Excellence
2005 Atlanta Photojournalism Contest, 2nd place: Portrait
2005 Eddie Adams Workshop
2004 cPOY 1st place: Pictorial; Honorable Mention: Pictorial
2004 Student Enhancement Award, Ohio University
2004 Graduate Student Senate Grant, Ohio University
2003 POYi Editing in papers under 75,000.
2003 NPPA Women in Photojournalism Juried Exhibition
2000 National Conference for Undergraduate Research
denver colorado photography and video for corporate, editorial, commercial and humanitarian aid clients. with a focus on multimedia and authentic storytelling and documentaries abour women, girls, public health, immigration, international and human rights issues.