What's this?! An update after two years?!
Well, yes—that's exactly what you're seeing.
A lot has changed, and I mean a lot. Back in December 2022, I was laid off from Sideshow Collectibles. While that might sound like a tough break, it turned out to be one of the best things that could've happened to me—especially for my mental health. Some environments become so toxic over time that you don’t even realize how much they’ve worn you down until you finally leave. That was definitely the case for me. But despite the challenges, I took away some valuable lessons from that chapter.
After leaving Sideshow, I jumped headfirst into freelancing. I kept busy with unit stills work, personal photo projects, and collaborations that reignited my creativity. It was a period of growth, hustle, and rediscovery—and it felt good.
Then, about ten months into freelancing, PCS Collectibles approached me with an opportunity: they wanted me to become their Photo Director/Photographer. The catch? I'd need to relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a huge decision, but after some serious conversations with Sean—my partner, my reluctant muse, my biggest supporter—we decided to take the leap. He was all in from the start.
After some back-and-forth negotiations, we settled on a salary and a two-year contract. So, we packed up our lives and moved across the country.
Charlotte turned out to be beautiful—welcoming, green, and full of potential. We rented a home for the first year, settling into this new chapter, before achieving one of our big shared goals: buying a house. The California market made homeownership feel impossible, but North Carolina gave us a real shot. We found a 1952 ranch-style fixer-upper on a half-acre lot in Concord, just 15 minutes from where we had been renting.
It ticked all the boxes: a large garage for Sean, and a big enough space for me to build out a dream studio. We’ve been in the house for 10 months now, and while we’re constantly working on it, every project has been a labor of love.
Before my contract with PCS expired, we finished building out my home studio. It’s been a blessing to have a dedicated space to create and continue working on projects I’m passionate about.
Looking back, the past two years have been full of upheaval, but also full of intention. We set big goals and made bold moves—and it’s paying off. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been absolutely worth it.
Here’s to change, growth, and building something new from the ground up.
Thanks for reading! Now that I have more time, I should be able to update more on what I'm working.