The name  Harper Maris  comes from my daughters’ middle names, because really, they are my inspiration. Seeing the world through their eyes is an amazing gift, and I am lucky enough to get to spend every day watching them grow.  

I have always loved taking pictures. For as long as I can remember, I have had a camera in  my  hands.  I  initially  found  my  inspiration  in  nature -  capturing  a  beautiful  sunset  or how  the  mountains  reflect  perfectly  in  a  lake.  Then  my  first  daughter  was  born  and suddenly  the  picture  changed.  I  wanted  to  freeze  time  at  every  single  stage  of  her  life and  hold  on  to  it.  I  love  how  a  photograph  can  bring  you  back  to  a  moment  and  make you relive it over and over again.

While  photography  has  always  been  an  interest  of  mine,  my  first  career  was  as  an elementary school teacher. What I enjoyed most about teaching was watching a child’s face light up - many times it was from something so small and simple.  I loved watching children delight in the everyday joys of life. I realized the importance of capturing these little moments before they pass you by. So, after ten years in the classroom, I decided to take a break from my teaching career and turned to my other passion.  

A  perfectionist  at  heart,  I  began  studying  photography  with a  focus  on  family  and  child portraiture.   By   the   time   my   second   daughter   was   born,   so   was   Harper   Maris Photography.  There  are  days  I  miss  teaching,  but  I  truly  appreciate  getting  to  interact with children and their families in a whole new way through photography.