In the fall of 2013, two things occurred that began my journey into becoming a photographer. One was a break-up between me and a long-term partner. The other was the purchase of my first smartphone, the iPhone 5S.

I began walking around New York City and taking pictures of couples interacting with each other. Maybe laughing together on a park bench, waving goodbye at a subway station, or, of course, kissing. It was like I was trying to figure out how successful couples navigate their relationships and to show myself that it could be done.

I noticed the pictures I took displayed a capacity to encapsulate a story or message. And as my photography has evolved to include everything from street to portraiture to landscapes and more, the core remains the same: to display dignity, to say something honest, and to capture a fleeting moment and preserve it because – in its own way – it is important, special, and beautiful.