Hey there! I'm Josie.
And I'm the voice behind Give Photography. I started taking photos seriously to document the scenery and faces of loved ones on a camping road trip across the Pacific Northwest.
I realized then that my camera is a tool for joy. I can notice the joy in my life through the eye of my camera as well as spread joy to others by capturing their happiest moments and relationships. And so I was hooked.
My first passion came in the form of serving others when I discovered that the only thing that truly filled my bucket was throwing myself into volunteer work. I put on my first charitable race as an ambitious high school girl ultimately trying to boost my college resume to someday make it rich. But once college came, my big money-making aspirations fizzled as I realized that the only thing I really wanted out of life had something to do with that race.
7 years + an education + a husband and baby later, I found myself deeply involved in volunteer work for vulnerable youth. I once again got into the work of race planning, but this time it was while also balancing a new passion: beautiful storytelling in the realm of photography. I swore it was just a hobby and that I would never charge for my services as I didn't think I could ever learn to be good enough, but when the refugee crisis hit, I knew I had to do something. As I was trying to determine how I could best help, I received this wise advice from a leader in the nonprofit space: we all have something unique to contribute, and only we know what that thing is.
However, as many times as I told myself my camera was simply a fundraising tool to me, somewhere along the way I began to be allured by the art of it - of beautifully photographing connection and documenting moments both simple and grand. I developed a deep gratitude for this art form that put me in rooms that I would have never been in otherwise, falling in love with people that I never would have met if it weren’t for this medium that I stumbled upon trying to get somewhere else.
I often find myself at the end of a long wedding day shaking my head in disbelief at my luck and saying to myself “what a gift”. I never could have predicted that life would lead me here, granting me such rich experiences in such beautiful places with such inspiring people. So if you choose to work with me - thank you. It's a gift.
I realized then the power and potential that I had with my photography hobby. And so, by beginning to charge for my services and donating a portion of my proceeds to refugees, I started a fundraiser. And the rest is history.
about me
My first passion came in the form of serving others when I discovered that the only thing that truly filled my bucket was throwing myself into volunteer work. I put on my first charitable race as an ambitious high school girl ultimately trying to boost my college resume to someday make it rich. But once college came, my big money-making aspirations fizzled as I realized that the only thing I really wanted out of life had something to do with that race.
7 years + an education + a husband and baby later, I found myself deeply involved in volunteer work for vulnerable youth. I once again got into the work of race planning, but this time it was while also balancing a new passion: beautiful storytelling in the realm of photography. I swore it was just a hobby and that I would never charge for my services as I didn't think I could ever learn to be good enough, but when the refugee crisis hit, I knew I had to do something. As I was trying to determine how I could best help, I received this wise advice from a leader in the nonprofit space: we all have something unique to contribute, and only we know what that thing is.
However, as many times as I told myself my camera was simply a fundraising tool to me, somewhere along the way I began to be allured by the art of it - of beautifully photographing connection and documenting moments both simple and grand. I developed a deep gratitude for this art form that put me in rooms that I would have never been in otherwise, falling in love with people that I never would have met if it weren’t for this medium that I stumbled upon trying to get somewhere else.
I often find myself at the end of a long wedding day shaking my head in disbelief at my luck and saying to myself “what a gift”. I never could have predicted that life would lead me here, granting me such rich experiences in such beautiful places with such inspiring people. So if you choose to work with me - thank you. It's a gift.
