Today I am accepting a challenge to write a love letter to my photography heroes. While I am primarily a family photojournalist and an event photographer now, I didn’t start off that way! My first career was as a newspaper photographer and then photo editor. It wasn’t until I had my first child in 2003 that I started turning my lens toward families. So, it’s no surprise my photography heroes are from the world of newspaper and magazine photojournalism.

I first fell in love with making pictures when I took a photography class at St. Joseph’s Academy in 1986. I was so proud of my Minolta XG7 that my parents purchased from a pawn shop. But I didn’t yet know about any other photographers work. I loved looking through old National Geographic magazines at my grandparent’s house, but I don’t think at the time I even realized that I was drawn to the magazine because of the incredible picture stories.

As my passion for photography grew, I ended up switching majors from business at Indiana University (sorry mom and dad for killing that dream) to photojournalism at University of Missouri-Columbia.

My professors at Mizzou introduced me to the most amazing photography heroes I could ever have imagined. I am drawn to photographers who have used their work to effect social change in the world.

James Nachtwey

I am inspired by the compassion and dignity James Nachtwey brings to people facing horrific life circumstances. Thank you for telling the important stories of people who often have no voice. Thank you for bringing me to places I would never go, and for never letting me forget those born into less fortunate circumstances around the world.

Sebastio Selgado

I am inspired by the beauty and artistry that Brazilian photographer Sebastian Selgado brings to the human condition. His work on forgotten people and places, displaced people and alarming working conditions around the world is stunning. Thank you for your incredible way of seeing the world and your passion for showing us the world around us. Thank you for reminding me to care about things beyond my own backyard.

Stephanie Sinclair

And most recently, I am inspired by my former Chicago Tribune colleague Stephanie Sinclair. Stephanie is a National Geographic photographer and her passion is telling the story of girls who are victimized by child marriage and female genital mutilation. Through her non-profit she created “Too Young to Wed” and her commitment to telling these girls’ stories, she is raising awareness around the globe about atrocities that are often culturally accepted practices. She is literally inspiring changes in legislation in many of these countries. Stephanie’s beautiful documentary photos and her vision of empowering girls and women around the world is beyond worthy of my hero worship!

I have so many more heroes, this list could be endless (Sam Abell, Dorothea Lange, Mary Ellen Mark, to name a few). Thank you to all the photographers who tell the stories of people who have no voice. Thank you for making telling their stories a priority in your life. Thank you for your vision, your passion, and your incredible commitment to your craft.

To see another blog about photography inspiration, check out Adri De La Cruz from Whimsy Heart Photography’s post.