Hi, I'm Gracie the photographer.

I'm Gracie, the photographer. I love so much about photography, but most of all I love the identity it has given me. Rather than be a random guest at your wedding, or a stranger at your family reunion, I get to be Gracie,  the photographer.

When I graduated high school and had no idea who or what I wanted to be, photography gave me purpose, passion, and a career path. While earning a degree in Art at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, I started photographing families, seniors, engagements, and weddings. I got to meet so many wonderful families and fun couples - It didn't take long to realize that being the photographer was a perfect fit for me.

After working in the photo business for nearly 10 years and photographing many weddings, I still get goosebumps every time the congregation stands and the bride begins her walk down the aisle. When taking engagement photos, I still get that feeling of "YES!" when I look at the back of my camera and realize that this couple is NAILING their engagement session. And of course, my heart still melts everytime a kid smiles at me and says "CHEEEEEESE," while sporting a few missing teeth. In these moments that I have gotten to collect over the years, I stop and think to myself - I can't believe being the photographer  is my job! I can't believe this is my life!

When I am not taking pictures, you can find me rifling through travel books, laughing at my own jokes, developing black and white film in my kitchen sink, and continuously cleaning up dog hair - a battle that I will always lose, thanks to my trusty sidekick, Petunia. 

I am a sucker for the first snow of the season, old buildings, and the "feeling of home" I get when walking in the front door of my parents' house. I am forever inspired by the retro-cool of the 1950's, Beatles music, and most importantly my family, including two nephews and three nieces, who are the lights of my life.