A road trip, down memory lane


Last week, during our first week of summer, we took a road trip to Glacier, Montana. Along the way, we stopped in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where I spent my first two years of college, played softball, and took my first real step toward making the dream of becoming a photographer a reality.

It's wild to think about how so many of the small decisions we make eventually shape the lives we live. This concept sometimes feels a little like looking at the sun to me. I can't stare at it too long because it's overwhelming to think how easily things could have gone differently. One wrong turn. One fear-based "no." One photography elective left off my schedule.

I mean, I married the videographer I met, photographing a wedding of a friend I played softball against, 2 weeks after I broke up with my former fiancé. Like, whoa. Softball, photography, and enough self trust (and really good, honest friends) all seem to have played a significant role in the life I am living today. 

Which brings me to the wonderful Phil Corlis, my photography professor at North Idaho College.

Phil was so much more than a teacher to me. His classroom felt like home, which is really important to a freshman in college. He encouraged me to try new things, introduced me to the magic of the darkroom, and gave me the confidence to pursue photography as a career. For more than 20 years, his smiling face and words of encouragement have resurfaced in my mind whenever I've needed them most. No amount of imposter syndrome could ever outweigh his belief in me.

Getting to see him again this last week filled my soul with so much peace and comfort. Revisiting old versions of myself isn't always easy. It’s been a pretty bumpy ride over the last stretch and there are parts of who I was that I've intentionally left behind. I work hard to stay grounded in who I am today. But being with Phil reminded me of the best parts of my younger self, the parts I still want to carry forward. In many ways, seeing him, and feeling like no time had past, he brought those pieces back to life.

So this is a post of gratitude for the people who show up in our lives and become so much more than their job titles ask of them. The people who see something in us before we can see it ourselves. The people whose wisdom takes years to fully understand, but whose words plant seeds that continue to bloom long after we've left their classroom.

Two smiling people pose together outdoors, man wearing red shirt, tan vest, and camera, woman in black top and jeans.

Phil, thank you for being you. Thank you for all the ways you've supported me over the years (whether you knew it or not). Thank you for calling the photo department at NAU to sing my praises, something I didn't even know you had done until our visit last week. "Thank you" doesn't feel like enough. I am forever grateful to know you, to have learned from you, and to continue learning from you even now. I left our time together with new ideas, renewed confidence, and a deeper understanding of myself and my work. You may be retired, but your gift of teaching will always remain.


As we shared a goodbye hug, Phil reminded me to take plenty of photos in Glacier. Of course I was already planning to, but suddenly it felt a little like a school assignment again, in the best possible way.


So here are a few of those photos. 


Serene mountain lake with snow-capped peaks, lush green forests, and a clear blue sky reflected in calm turquoise waters.
Elderly woman with blonde hair and sunglasses smiling outdoors in black and white photo.
Black and white photo of three people relaxing on a boat with mountain scenery in the background.
Black and white photo of a person gazing at a serene mountain lake surrounded by pine trees.
Black and white photo of a teddy bear on a dark bed with rumpled striped bedding.
Curly-haired child wearing sunglasses and Nike shirt holds a shell near a mountain lake on a boat.
Black and white photo of a smiling woman and sleeping child in a car, both wearing seatbelts.
Two colorful rowboats on a rocky lakeshore with calm water, green hills, and a wooden dock under a blue sky.
Yellow canoe on the shore of a calm mountain lake with a wooden dock and snow-capped peaks under blue sky.
A yellow and black swallowtail butterfly resting among tall green grass blades in a natural outdoor setting.
Yellow canoe on the shore of a calm mountain lake with a wooden dock and snow-capped peaks under blue sky.
A vibrant turquoise ocean wave curls and breaks with white sea foam on a calm blue sea surface.
Colorful wet pebbles and rocks in shades of red, green, and brown scattered on a natural stone surface.
Turquoise river flows past lush green pine forest below dramatic rocky mountain cliffs under blue sky with white clouds.
Serene blue mountain lake with calm waters, forested shores, and distant peaks under a clear sky.
Choppy glacial lake waters with dramatic snow-capped mountain peaks rising under cloudy skies in Glacier National Park.
Turquoise glacial lake with choppy water, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense evergreen forests under cloudy skies.
Dramatic mountain lake landscape with snow-capped peaks, rocky cliffs, and evergreen forests under cloudy skies.
A cascading waterfall flows over rocky cliffs surrounded by lush evergreen trees along a forest hiking trail.
Dramatic mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks reflecting over a calm lake under moody overcast skies.
Rain falling on a mountain lake with snow-capped peaks, evergreen forests, and a scenic valley in the background.
Serene glacial lake reflecting snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky in a pristine wilderness valley.
Two visitors pose beside the iconic Glacier National Park wooden entrance sign surrounded by mountains and dramatic cloudy skies.
Silver Ford Mustang convertible driving on a straight open highway under a cloudy sky, rear view showing iconic Mustang badge.
Dense evergreen forest stretches beneath dramatic storm clouds over rugged mountain peaks with snow-capped summits in the wilderness.
Scenic golf course at sunset with lush green fairways, tree-lined path, mountain backdrop, and colorful sky with wispy clouds.
Colorful sunset sky over lush green garden with yellow flowers and pine trees in a scenic landscape.
A rushing mountain river flows through a dense evergreen forest with fallen logs in the foreground.
A serene mountain lake with sandy shores, snow-capped peaks, dense forests, and dramatic cloudy skies in a wilderness setting.
A serene river winds through a lush green forest under a vivid blue sky with fluffy white clouds in a scenic wilderness.
A wooden boardwalk path leads through lush green forest trees and foliage on a sunny day.
Serene mountain lake with crystal clear water reflecting blue skies and white clouds in Glacier National Park.
Turquoise mountain river flowing through rocky terrain surrounded by evergreen forest.
Scenic mountain river landscape framed by evergreen trees with rocky cliffs and lush green forest in background.
Turquoise river flowing through a mossy rocky canyon surrounded by tall evergreen trees in a lush forest.
Moss-covered rocky cliff face with lush green ferns and tall forest trees in a dense woodland setting.
Scenic mountain river landscape with turquoise water, evergreen forest, and rocky cliffs framed by lush green trees.
Crystal-clear shallow lake with colorful pebbles, mountain backdrop, and blue sky with clouds in Glacier National Park.
Marina at sunset with blue boat canopies reflecting on calm water under dramatic cloudy sky.