I used to run Studio Hound based largely on the perception of others. A business should be professional, appropriate, fall in line with societal expectations… Insert extended list of boring corporate standards. I'm going to be totally honest with you. That's a whole lot of shit that I'm not. After the things I've experienced in the last couple of years, it became incredibly clear that Studio Hound needed to head in a direction that allowed me to find peace, tell my story and express truths that had become clear as day. That's where my art and ideas started at the birth of Studio Hound, but they took a wrong turn at the sign that read "please others".

About 2 years ago, I began to lose touch with photography. I was going through a completely unexpected divorce. I mean, right? You don't think that will be the outcome when you marry someone. Here's the thing, so much was wrong and I was completely blind to or ignored everything, until it ended.

That's a story in and of itself and I'm not ready to share that yet, but that's where the new foundation for Studio Hound started to take shape. I needed Studio Hound to portray me. Occasionally not funny, generally awkward, rough around the edges and full of an insane amount of love. Cue the new logo. It's basically a conglomerate of those things.

“I needed to reconnect and the best way I know how, is to make it personal.”

— JT

The paw is based on Harley's paw, my late Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. I lost her in February to complications after surgery to remove cancerous tumors. Harley was my world. Putting my love for her into words is nearly impossible and I needed that same love back in photography. I needed to reconnect and the best way I know how, is to make it personal. Compiled with the font and the weird stacked letters, I managed to arrive at a happy place of legible, quirky and genuine.

Between a regular influx of obstacles and a path to self discovery, I knew I no longer wanted to focus on weddings. Often times, when you photograph weddings, every outcome is expected. To likely no one's surprise, it was time for a change. I needed to help those that have felt similarly to tell their story and to appreciate their own beauty. I want to be a part of the movement that empowers women to be strong, independent and more than a tradition. Often times, we are caught up in the fluff of age old tradition and societal expectations, and that's okay. But it's also okay to blow that shit out of the water.

Ultimately, I am just trying to say that photography and art is therapeutic, and neither myself or Studio Hound fits into a box. Here's to following you heart, challenging the norm and supporting one another - no matter your story.

And ladies, just in case no one has told you today... You're beautiful and I got your back.