In 2017, Pics 4 Passion started as a simple dream on one of my Pinterest boards. As a photography student, I wanted to create images that showed mental health in its raw, honest form—far from the polished perfection we often see on social media. I shared this vision with my classmate and close friend, Bridget, and together we began documenting people’s mental health journeys in ways that felt meaningful, vulnerable, and educational.

While some of our photos were posed, they were always intentional—designed to make people pause, reflect, and start conversations that might otherwise feel too difficult. More than anything, I wanted to give people the chance to see the impact their own stories could have on others.

The early days of P4P were filled with momentum. In our first full year, I secured funding for a photojournalistic book, Pain V Passion (PvP), featuring the stories of strangers who hoped for a better future and were willing to share their truths. You can read more about that project here – [link].

As PvP grew, so did my vision for P4P. I didn’t know exactly what it would look like, but I knew I didn’t want the project to end. So I applied to a scale-up youth summit hosted by the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, taking place in March 2020. It offered the chance to pitch a continuation of PvP and P4P—possibly turning them into an organization offering workshops and community programs—with up to $10,000 in funding.

I spent that weekend refining my pitch and presented it to a room full of CEOs, funders, and youth leaders. I was nervous but hopeful as I shared my dreams for the future. That evening, they announced that all seven projects—including mine—would receive funding. The relief was overwhelming. On the flight home, I even drafted a letter turning down my ideal job so I could fully dedicate myself to P4P. Three days later, COVID-19 hit, shutting down the province and much of the world. Just like that, P4P was forced to stop.

Because most of my plans required in-person work and I lacked the tools to take things online, I had to pivot quickly. I drafted a new proposal to use the grant to support my community during the pandemic and, that summer, created and delivered more than 200 self-care kits to youth shelters, libraries, and nonprofits. It wasn’t photography-related, but it felt essential and true to P4P’s purpose.

After that project, P4P went quiet for almost two years. When restrictions lifted, I was invited to teach young adults how to use photography as a coping strategy and creative outlet. From that, I developed my Intro to Photography and Therapeutic Photography workshops, which at the time, I ran quarterly for new cohorts.

Between 2018 and 2022, I also spoke at youth summits, conferences, and international online events about P4P, my love for photography, and how passion can be used to strengthen communities. During this time, I also opened a photo studio for a couple of years to reconnect with my creativity.

But by the end of 2022, I needed to pause again. I was facing health challenges, navigating a deep depression, and working through my addiction to alcohol. It broke my heart to step back from P4P once more. But even in that difficult season, God opened doors that helped me keep a foot on the path. As I leaned more deeply into my faith, I found a sense of peace and clarity in the chaos.

In 2023, I was invited to share my story in a collaborative book, With Grace and Grit. Trying to fit everything into 2,000 words felt impossible, but the process reignited my passion for both writing and photography. I decided to give myself time—without deadlines or pressure—to think, pray, and discern the next steps.

And that brings me to today. Since spring 2023, I’ve been exploring what the next chapter of my business and P4P looks like: a chapter that supports my healing, deepens my faith, uses photography as a catalyst for meaningful conversation, and—above all—allows my passion for meaningful photographyt to support both the community and me once again.

Here are some of the early pictures from P4P.