Why Giving Back Matters So Deeply to Me - And to Waywind.

If you’ve been part of the Waywind family for a while, you already know I’m passionate about capturing your memories, celebrating connection, and creating experiences that lift people up. But there’s another part of Waywind—one I hold just as close to my heart that you may not have fully seen yet.

It’s the part rooted in where I come from.

My beginning.

I know what it feels like to grow up within the poverty threshold.I know what it’s like to live in a city but still, running water isn’t a guarantee due to frozen pipes because heat was a luxury, where food can feel like a question mark instead of a certainty. I know the heaviness of walking through childhood and adolescence with the weight of “not enough” constantly trailing behind you. Bills might not have been my job as a child, but growing up, us kids felt that responsibility, too. I grew up in a split household with siblings who only share a 50/50 blood relation; knowing firsthand what it's like to be thrown around into different enviornments and circumstances which crash like waves.

And I know what it’s like to fall into the cracks that those pressures create—bad habits, numbing patterns, addictions, the kind of personal battles that bruise you on the inside long before anyone else notices on the outside. I’ve lived them. I've suffocated in them... and, I’ve survived them.

Most importantly, I’ve grown because of them.

That’s why giving back isn’t just something I do—it’s part of who I am. It’s stitched into Waywind just as tightly as photography itself. I'm here for it.

When you’ve come from a place where help feels rare, you understand the power of being that help for someone else. You understand how even the smallest moment of generosity—a warm interaction, a supportive gesture, a gift of time—can shift the course of someone’s day… and sometimes their life.

This is the heartbeat behind everything I create here.

It’s why I donate my time at local events that pour back into our community. It’s why I curated the Zero Out Senior Portrait Experience, so every young person—regardless of their family’s financial situation—can feel seen, celebrated, and worthy as they step into a new chapter of their life. It’s why every year I host Claus for a Cause, an event where I donate 100% of the proceeds to a local charity or a family who needs a little extra peace, support, and Christmas magic.

For nearly a decade, Waywind has been honored to lend a hand to our community through one of my favorite traditions of the year—Claus for a Cause. Every holiday season, we team up with the incredible Santa and Mrs. Claus to raise funds for local organizations and families who need a little extra light. Over the years, we’ve been able to support The Peoples Pantry, the Ron Robinson Memorial Foundation, the Ansorge Hotel, local families, the WA Federal Giving Tree, and so many others who quietly keep our community moving forward.

Giving isn’t just a checkbox for me—it’s personal. I grew up believing that when you have the ability to help, you do. And Waywind has given me a platform to turn that belief into real impact. Being able to use my work to uplift others is one of the biggest blessings of my career.

Working alongside Santa and Mrs. Claus all these years has been nothing short of magical. They bring warmth, joy, and a genuine heart for giving that inspires everyone they meet. Together, we’ve curated a tradition that means more than photos—it’s a moment each year where our entire community comes together to spread kindness, generosity, and holiday cheer.

Claus for a Cause is one of the things I’m most proud of, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to continue this tradition of giving, connection, and community.

These aren’t marketing strategies. They’re not boxes to check. They’re reflections of the childhood I lived, the struggles I walked through, and the promise I made to myself long ago—that if I ever had the chance to be the person I needed back then, I would take it.

Waywind isn’t just a photography brand. It’s a light. A lens that sees people for who they are and what they’ve survived. A reminder that beauty, love, and community can grow out of even the hardest beginnings.

And if you’re here—reading this, supporting this work, showing up for the families and students we serve—you’re part of that light too. You help make these experiences possible. You help carry this mission forward.

Thank you for being in this with me. Thank you for helping Waywind give back, lift up, and shine where it matters most.

Together, we’re creating more than portraits.

We’re creating impact.

We’re creating connection.

We’re creating hope.