hi, I’m Carly

I am the best, bravest, most compassionate version of myself with a camera in hand.

My goal is to make photographs that make people see how beautiful they are just being themselves. My approach is highly personal and, I'm told, unconventional. I hope that shows through in my work.

When not shooting, I spend my days with a snow-loving dog named Sprocket and a partner named Rob, who loves broccoli and, thankfully, me. I'm a film aficionado, which is just a pretentious way of saying I heart movies. I love clever words and a balanced chai. I am outrageously proud of my friends and my sock collection.

I am based in my native Colorado and, upon securing a dogsitter, am available worldwide for portraits, editorials, and commercial shoots.

Stories are my life

I’ve been telling them in one form or another since at least the third grade, when I won a writing contest for a heavy piece about loss that was concerningly beyond my years. There was a parent-teacher conference.

In fifth grade, I wrote poetry and co-wrote, directed, and produced a play (about the after-life; I was a weird kid).

I grew up to have a brief career as a newspaper reporter. That made me sad, so I jumped ship. After photographing both weddings and families for several years, I decided to center my work on children and families.

“Carly Takes all the stress away, while we just get to play and love on one another. What she captures is magical, and we are ever so grateful that Carly shares her gift with us.”

— Katie W., portrait client—

I’m a self taught photographer,

which is not to discount the countless mentors I have learned from over the 13 years I’ve been a student of photography.

I now know approximately .001% of all there is to know about photography, and I’m excited to spend the next 13 years trying to double that knowledge.

The truth is, it doesn’t take very long to learn how to use a camera. It’s simple math plus muscle memory acquired over time, and I have only ever been interested in gear insofar as it allows me to shoot how I want to shoot. To me, the lifelong work of photography, what I spend most of my time on, is studying light and subject, and continually examining my motivation - my ‘why’ for being behind a camera. I am eternally curious about the inner landscapes of people, specifically my most cherished subject - children.

I don’t have kids…

so I have ample energy for yours!

I proudly call myself a PANK - Professional Aunt, No Kids. My sister’s four children inspired my career’s beginning, and have remained my muses throughout. I can never fully thank them for all they’ve given to me, but hopefully, when they’re grown (which they almost are), they’ll understand how much I love them by seeing how I saw their childhoods.