Occasionally I'm asked where the name Houdsta was derived from. The story while quite simple, is personally meaningful. Sometime ago my daughter's lifelong best friend Nina began calling me "the Houdsta" (as in Hood-sta) in a humorous way. I found this quite amusing. Before long, my daughter and her two best friends were all calling me the houdsta. 

 

I've watched these three girls grow-up together from their earliest days of school. A friendship between them ever-so-strong. Always an Arts family, dancing was a big part of their lives from pre-teen to 18 and through dance, their bond grew stronger as did ours with their parents. I watched them all bloom into beautiful young, intelligent women and as they ventured off to different colleges starting new lives, I urged them to make a pact with each other to always remain like sisters and to create an arrangement to stay connected throughout their lives regardless of the space between them or life's busy fast pace.

 

When considering a name for my photography, it was quite simple: The Houdsta was the obvious choice further enabling the promise they've made to each other and to me - to support each other throughout their lives and celebrate all that is good. To Nina, Taylor & Sarah, may your friendship commitment's remain as beautiful as your hearts and may you not forget the promises to each other.

 

- The Houdsta