Our Why

At first, I didn’t see a place for myself in the world of outdoor photography. The industry was overwhelmingly male-dominated, not because women weren’t interested, but because they were often weighed down by responsibilities that men didn’t have to think about. Caregiving, motherhood, the endless expectations placed on women. Photography workshops were built for people who could drop everything and chase the adventure, without barriers. That wasn’t me. And I knew it wasn’t a lot of other women, either.

I thought about following the path others had taken, offering tours, guiding photographers to the same spots to photograph the same iconic images. But something about that just felt hollow. I wanted something deeper. A way to teach women how to see the world through their own eyes, not just how to copy an image someone else had already taken.

I knew I had to act when I became exhausted by the imbalance. I’m an advocate for women’s equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and the belief that we deserve spaces built for us, by us. No more waiting to be included. No more bending ourselves to fit into an industry that wasn’t designed with us in mind. So, I created Spark Adventure Photography Workshops—a space where women could learn photography in the outdoors, free from the pressures of a male-dominated field. A place where learning to connect with a subject mattered more than getting the perfect shot.

My first workshop in 2017 had only two participants. I wondered if I had made a mistake. But I kept going. By 2021, I had sold out every single workshop, with waitlists of women who were looking for exactly this—an experience that honored their perspective, their way of learning, and their connection to nature.

I resisted the temptation to do things the way other photographers did. I could have followed the same formula (take a group to the same spot, tell them how to photograph it), but instead, I followed my gut. And now, Spark Adventure Photography Workshops is growing into something bigger than I ever imagined. We’re working on expanding across Canada, offering immersive experiences in unique and exciting locations, built specifically for women who want to grow as photographers and as adventurers. And after that? Global.

But there’s more to this than just photography.

I’m tired of every excuse to be on our phones. Tired of the message that “you don’t need a real camera, your phone is enough.” Phones aren’t making people better photographers, they’re making them more distracted. They keep us tethered to notifications, scrolling, consuming, instead of creating. Photography is about being present. About seeing. Feeling. Noticing the environment around you. And when you pair photography with mindful practices in nature, you create something powerful—a way to reconnect with yourself, with the land, with what truly matters.

That’s why I do this.

So I guess my point is this: Spark Adventure Photography isn’t just about learning camera settings. It’s about rewriting the rules of who gets to call themselves a photographer. It’s about creating a space where women don’t just fit in—but thrive.

This is only the beginning.