About

Greetings!

I am Virginia, a Saint Louis-based freelance photographer, specializing in family lifestyle, storytelling and portraits. I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai'i and eventually found myself in the very middle of “The Mainland.” I believe these two main homes have shaped my interests and the paths I'm drawn to. I love being out in nature and learning about our environment. Hawai'i really connected me to the land, and St. Louis has shown me a diverse array of humans, cultures, social issues, community, food, music and art.

Who am I? That’s always a loaded question. I am an artist, creator and adventurer at heart. To stay active and nourished, I love to go see art, discover new music and films, and most importantly, get outside and look at all of the moss, rocks and water. I love climbing, hiking, hot yoga, biking, float trips and just soaking up the sun on a nice day. I’m always up for an adventure and am not afraid of being a little weird.

What inspires me? First and foremost: People! Everyone has a story, and every story is a thread that weaves together the fabric that makes up our society. Secondly: The Land. Water, plants and flowers always have a way of speaking to me and revealing the beauty, softness and resilience of life and reminding me of the bigger picture and my place within it. Another inspiration is Travel. Getting out of my comfort zone and being exposed to new places, people, food, music, fashion and culture are always exciting and enlightening. Lastly, Architecture. It reveals stories, history and a sense of a place. I thoroughly enjoy finding compositions and scenes within the lines, textures, and colors.

Why Photography? The path led me here, simply put. I could have never foreseen myself here, doing this, fifteen years ago. Like most kids at their local community college, I was just trying to fill those art credits with classes that seemed like the most fun. Although I enjoyed ceramics and drawing, photography turned out to be the perfect way to engage with other people and gave me a reason to be somewhere. Just holding a camera, within it only potential, there was an inherent feeling of power, purpose and endless possibility. I eventually earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. I do believe that the learning and growing process never ends.