Journal - Maui

WOW OH WOW was this the most incredible trip! As someone who came from humble beginnings and has yet to travel nearly as much as she's always dreamed of, I thought I might never get the chance to see the indescribable beauty of the Hawaiian islands with my own eyes. I flew for the first time just a couple years ago, now all the sudden I'm on a 10 hour flight and going across the Pacific Ocean to a tropical island with a five hour time difference! 

The amazing team at Book Focal put on yet another great "Not-A-Conference" for photographers, and chose one of the most dreamy locations to host it. Rather than having a bunch of people sitting in a lecture hall and watch slideshows all day, Focal organizes events where photographers can actively build their portfolios in stunning places while creating a meaningful community together. Photography can be a lonely profession! Most of us are small business owners and we don't bump into each other very often. Giving us this chance to meet each other, spark new friendships and geek out together means the world.

Overall, having the chance to go to this magical place and learning about the people, their passion for caring for their islands, and just experiencing the way of life is a gift I will never forget. I have such a beautiful new perspective on the beauty of life and appreciating the world around me. Thank you to the people of Maui for welcoming me and allowing me to enjoy some time on your incredible island, to the Focal team and all of their collaborators for all of their hard work in organizing this wonderful event, and for all of you reading this for your support and interest in my work and journey as a photographer.