My Story

Who do I think I am?

My Name is Deniece Rudd. I was born in Southern California to a young woman from Missouri and a young man from Michoacán. (I’ll tell you their story another time.) They did their best I’m sure, but well, my rebellious streak was going to have it’s own way. I began experimenting with drugs and alcohol at a young age and soon ended up going farther than I wanted to in quite a few directions.

So there I was. Pregnant at 16 with a man I knew next to nothing about. I had a choice to make, and I don’t regret it.

I feel even at that time I was constantly either video recording or snapping photos on my Kodak Advantix C400 camera with my black and white film. Time was rushing past me like a raging river. Fast forward to now and most of my four children hate having their picture taken (but love selfies?) so maybe I went overboard? Well, no. I don’t believe that. I love to photograph everything. Like I’m making a documentary of our lives. I guess I am. But it is my joy to have taken some beautiful people’s graduation photos, wedding photos, maternity photos, newborn, and now family photos. I’m so grateful to be trusted with photographing your life. Your beautiful moments. Your messy moments. Your real moments.

So, who do I think I am? I am a photographer.