When I completed my 3000 hours as an associate marriage and family therapist in December, I booked a trip with Women Photo Tours to Portugal. I’d followed Amanda for a long time before getting off social media and received an email about the upcoming trip and knew it was the right time.

We spent the first three days in Lisbon, walking about different neighborhoods, enjoying meals together and separately, and taking in the culture. I brought my Canon AT 1, Rolleiflex medium format, and Super 8 cameras with me.

Film brings me so much joy. It slows me down. It helps me focus on the present moment and engage with what is before me. While I shot about half of the rolls I brought with me, I feel like the ten or so rolls I went through tell the story of my time there. Colorful. Artistic. Full of good food and good company.

One afternoon when the group did a photoshoot with a model and local clothing shop, I went off on my own and found a sweet little cafe, got myself a matcha, and sketched for bit.