Tucson Documentary Family Photographer Named Top 10 in the World, #1 in the U.S., with 2 Golden Lens Nominations.
Being named one of the Top 10 Family Photographers in the World by Inspiration Family Photographers, earning the title of #1 Documentary Family Photographer in the United States from the same organization, and receiving a Top 10 in the U.S. ranking from This is Reportage: Family made 2025 one of the most meaningful years of my career.
As a documentary family photographer dedicated to telling honest, real-life stories, these recognitions feel like a celebration of the families I photograph — the quiet moments, the chaotic ones, the deeply emotional ones, and the everyday beauty that becomes art when preserved with intention.
Six months of the year were spent photographing in Portugal and six months in Tucson, and both places shaped the imagery that was recognized. Over the course of the year, 15 photographs and four full family stories were awarded across multiple collections, marking a season of artistic growth and personal evolution.
Top 10 Family Photographer in the World
Inspiration Family Photographers – Final Rankings 2025
Inspiration Family Photographers released their final global rankings for 2025, and I am honored to be recognized as one of the Top 10 Family Photographers in the World, and #1 in the United States. Their awards celebrate photographers who create emotional, storytelling-rich, completely unposed work — the heart of true documentary family photography.
Explore the full Inspiration Family ranking list:
https://inspirationphotographers.com/top-50-overall-2024-family-photographers/
Golden Lens Award Nominations — Revelation of the Year & Story Collection of the Year
In addition to the global rankings, I received two Golden Lens nominations from the international organization, Inspiration Family Photographers, for 2025:
Revelation Photographer of the Year and Story Collection of the Year.
Often called the Oscars of documentary family photography, the International Golden Lens Awards honor outstanding artistry, depth of storytelling, and excellence across a photographer’s full body of work. These nominations represent some of the highest distinctions in our field.
Revelation Photographer of the Year recognizes photographers who make a powerful impact through rapid artistic growth, creativity, and consistency.
Story Collection of the Year honors a complete narrative body of work — the kind of immersive family storytelling that reveals connection, emotion, and truth over a series of images that build meaning together.
These nominations are especially meaningful because long-form storytelling is at the core of my approach. It’s how families truly get to see the beauty of their real life reflected back to them.
Top 10 Documentary Family Photographers in the U.S.
This is Reportage: Family – 2025 Rankings
I’m also grateful to be listed in the Top 10 Documentary Family Photographers in the United States by This is Reportage: Family, an organization known for celebrating honest, real, completely unposed family photography.
Their awards recognize both individual winning images and full family stories — a form of storytelling that has become the foundation of my work.
Explore the This is Reportage: Family 2025 U.S. rankings:
https://thisisreportage.com/top-10-usa-photographers-of-2025/
What These Awards Mean for the Families I Photograph
Awards are lovely, but at their core, they exist because families allow me into their lives. These recognitions reflect:
Authentic storytelling
No posing. No directing. Just real, honest moments documented with intention, emotion, and presence.
Consistency and depth
Fifteen awarded images and four honored stories show the strength of full-day or multi-hour storytelling sessions — the truest expression of real life.
Cross-continental influence
My year was shaped by both Portugal and Tucson — two cultures, two landscapes, two sources of light and rhythm that shaped my work in different ways.
Family trust
Every recognition begins with a family who opened their door and allowed me to photograph the genuine, unpolished beauty of their everyday life.
A Year of Growth, Reflection, and Gratitude
This year, my visual language expanded — I found myself drawn to reflections, silhouettes, shadows, layering, and more complex compositions. These choices became a thread woven through the images and stories honored this year.
And behind all of these photographs is my own family:
my daughter, who continues to shape how I see the world, and my husband, whose steady support makes every investment in my craft possible.
These recognitions feel like a deep exhale at the end of a year that stretched me creatively and personally — and like a promise for what comes next.
Looking Ahead
If you’ve been considering documenting your family in a way that feels honest, meaningful, and art-forward, this is a beautiful time to begin. Documentary family photography becomes more valuable every single year as your children grow, your routines evolve, and your story deepens.
Here’s to another year of creating art from real life — the kind of images your family will treasure for generations.