Hey there, fabulous friends! Welcome aboard this thrilling adventure—I'm beyond thrilled to have you join me here. Let me tell you, the sheer excitement pulsating through my veins, It's off the charts. My mission? Simple yet profound: to ignite sparks of inspiration, sprinkle seeds of hope, spread love like glitter, and arm you with the tools and mojo to chase down your wildest dreams, no holds barred.

But wait, who's this "Vivid Vagabond," you ask? Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Denise Mayree.

Now, I know what you're thinking when you see "Mayree." Trust me, I've heard it all. it's pronounced just like "Marie." Easy-peasy, right? It's my middle name and has a bit of a cool story behind it.

So, here’s the story: My mom, in her youth, grooved to old country tunes in my grandparents basement. Among those dusty records was Porter Wagner's "Ballads of Love," featuring a little ditty called "Denise Mayree." Mom fell head over heels for the name and voilà, yours truly was dubbed Denise Mayree. My grandpa used to sing it to me when I was a little girl. Back then, it irked me to no end. Now? It's a cherished memory I hold dear.

Now, onto what I do. I am a Photographer turned Photoshop sorceress turned mentor and educator extraordinaire—yup, it's a mouthful. Long story short? I've been capturing life's magic for eons. But about seven years ago, I kicked things up a notch, hitting the road armed with nothing but my camera and a spirit of adventure. Still snapping pics, mind you, but now from sun-soaked beaches and misty mountaintops. Along the way, I snagged a game-changer editing client, allowing me to keep the dream alive.

Recently, I've hit the pause button (just a teensy one, I promise) on the editing gig to focus on uplifting my fellow shutterbugs, crafting digital backdrops, and teaching Photoshop wizardry.

Let's rewind a bit. Why did I choose photography? Brace yourself: it's about turning brain sparks into tangible reality. The thrill of bringing visions to life is absolutely intoxicating. And helping others catch that same buzz? Pure magic.

I have loved being a photographer since I was a little kid. Other than being Dolly Parton, cause glitter and sparkly dresses, am I right?, it’s the only thing I have ever wanted to do with my life. My first camera was a pink plastic film camera, and my first models were my barbies. Ahh what a great time to be alive.

Fast forward to a gauntlet of soul-sucking desk jobs,Monday to Friday, work at a desk, customer service, build someone else’s dream, make minimum wage, answer to some pompous jerk of a boss. Ok ok I may be a little bitter about that last one.  I hated every minute of it, I knew I was meant to create something great for myself. I knew I was meant for something better. Which is why I started the journey to becoming all the things I want to be, all the things I am now, and all the things that my desires keep evolving to.

Lets clumsily stumble through a divorce from an abusive marriage, a long struggle to come back from that, and make myself whole again. I found a desire to find who I am and rediscover what that means for my dreams, that I decided I wanted to travel. It took a few years but I made that happen. It was the scariest and most exhilarating thing I have ever done, aside from leaving my marriage.

It was while I was travelling and running out of money ( I wasn't working at the time) that I stumbled (Manifested?) into an editing gig. I mean I am a pro at photoshop and it was a walk into and start making good money type of gig. It also turned into a 6 figure client, but i digress...

It allowed me to keep travelling and following my dreams, and be able to work from anywhere in the world that has internet. Since then I have acquired more editing work, and built a whole business as an outsource editor.

My approach to life, love, and lenses? It's simple: "Wherever you go, go with all your heart." I lead with love, my cheeky monkeys. Big emotions, wild adventures, and the occasional bout of anxiety—yep, it's all part of the package. My life, my passions, and my loved ones? They're all intertwined, each thread leading straight back to my heart.

Photographing a great photo, helping a client succeed in whatever they are struggling with in that moment, nurturing friendships, and building my dream life. I hope to convey that in this blog. To give you a glimpse of every part of me that goes into my work, and my life. I want you to know that you are not alone in your daily struggles, and in your daily triumphs.

Alright, lovelies, buckle up, because here's the scoop on what you're getting into with 'The Vivid Vagabond'!

We're diving headfirst into a whirlwind of creativity, laughter, and maybe just a hint of mischief. From behind-the-scenes photography adventures to heart-to-heart chats about life and living it on your terms, this blog is your VIP pass to the wild ride that is my world. So, get ready to be inspired, entertained, and who knows, maybe even a little bit surprised.

Let's shake things up and make some memories together!

So, join the party! Subscribe, follow, comment—heck, let's make this a shindig to remember. You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, denisemayree.com and of course here!

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See you in the next adventure…

With all my heart,

Denise Mayree