ABOUT ME
Media/ Marketing
Life’s funny, I never thought I’d become a photographer or media professional. But that’s what happens when life happens. I was headed on a straight path, and then life threw me a few curveballs, maybe just like it has for you or anyone else at some point or another. In a lot of ways, that’s been the story of my life and what ultimately led me into photography and creative storytelling.
I grew up in the megacities of Southeast Asia, thriving as a city soccer kid. When I was in 5th grade, my family made a drastic move, from the dense, humid cities to a cold, grey small town in the Pacific Northwest. The transition was rough. I went from having everything at my fingertips to being surrounded by nothing familiar. Soccer was my escape, and I worked hard toward playing at a high level. But at 15, a rare knee injury ended that dream. Losing soccer felt like losing my purpose.
Then, by pure chance, luck, maybe fate, I discovered surfing. Paddling out in the icy waters of the Northwest changed everything. The feeling of harnessing the ocean’s power and beauty shifted my entire perspective. Suddenly, I began noticing the world around me, the density of the green trees, the dark blues of the ocean, the fiery sunsets. I finally understood why my family had made the move. I wanted to capture and share that beauty, the energy, the connection, the feeling of nature and its beauty. That moment sparked my passion for photography and storytelling.
Since then, I’ve learned to adapt and grow. At 19, I founded a small outdoor-inspired clothing brand focused on connecting people with nature. Along the way, I taught myself a wide range of skills — from Adobe Illustrator, Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premiere to camera operations, management, finance, and relationship building.
Now, my mission is simple: "to use creative mediums to inspire, share and connect people."
Since receiving my degree in Film & Media studies and business certificate from UCSB as well as my Digital Marketing Certificate from University of Oregon, I have found myself picking up fundamental skills in capturing, editing, organizing, and producing creative media projects through many professional experiences. I have had the privilege of working internships with small business (Semi Aquatic Art Gallery), larger corporation (August Jackson Marketing) and a government body (Tolowa Dee-Ni). In addition to these professional experiences, I have freelanced multiple projects with people to make their visions come to life. In these creative endeavors, I have become well-rounded in processes start to finish of both photo and video. However, I also am proficient in other softwares and can create photoshopped pieces and graphics. Currently working with Eli Olson, renowned Professional Pipeline and big wave surfer for O'neill, I have been able to help him significantly grow his social media channels on both Instagram and on Youtube creating added value. Through him I have been able to work and gain trust from big companies like O'neill and Meili Vodka and look forward to forming more and new relations, bringing stories and visions to life.