My dad used to say these words whenever I was upset or stressed. Even though he is no longer here to say these words, they frequently echo in my mind reminding me to smile, have fun, laugh, and be silly. They encourage me to go on trips or do the thing.

For me, “the thing” was starting a photography business. I grew up in Western Montana surrounded by beautiful landscapes and developed a passion for photography at an early age. I loved taking photos with my Polaroid and later with a 35mm camera when I joined the 4-H photography program. This program allowed me to explore and learn, and it led to my first job right out of high school with a well-known school portrait company. Later on, I moved into photo processing and production.

I married my high school sweetheart, who had enlisted in the Army, and we traveled to amazing places like Turkey, Italy, Germany, Washington DC, and Hawaii. Although I took many photos during these trips, I never felt ready to pursue my dream. After my spouse retired from the Army, we returned to the Bitterroot Valley to settle down and raise our son. In 2023, our life had settled into a steady rhythm, and it finally felt like the right time to “do the thing.”

JcrossC represents our family brand, J+C. These were the initials two young kids carved into an aspen treen the day before a departure for the Army. Today, those young kids are much older, but are reminded daily of their love. This year we celebrate 25 years! While there is nothing small about great feat, I still try to not the sweat the small stuff and embrace each day we have.