09/24/2026
One of the things I love most about photography is how it allows me to connect with people, learn about who they are, and tell their stories. I believe my background as a dancer—and ALL those dance composition classes —taught me early on that storytelling is really at the heart of what I do.
One of the most rewarding projects I’ve had the opportunity to photograph for I believe 8 years now is creating portraits of the retiring Deans of Columbia Theological Seminary. (Shoutout to The Scholar with a Camera, Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins for putting me on—my colleagues stay looking out! 🙌🏾)
In this BTS, you’ll see moments from my portrait session with Dr. Jeffrey Tribble, who is retiring after 27 years at Columbia Seminary. Before every shoot, I do my research. I ask questions. We talk. We reflect. And for a portrait like this, I’m also thinking about legacy—how this final image will live on the walls of the college and represent a chapter of his life and work for years to come.
Because for me, it’s never just a photoshoot. It’s a collaboration. Every detail is intentional, and I want the final image to authentically represent the person in front of my camera and the story they’re leaving behind.
And… the most moving part of the shoot was when Dr. Tribble sat down at the piano and played Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise.” As he shared, “Before I served in the pulpit and classroom, I learned important ministry lessons playing the piano.”
That’s the story behind the portrait.
