MANDY GARVIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Story by Kayla Fugate • Photography by Brian Packard

Mandy Garvin is the owner of Mandy Garvin Photography. After relocating many times over the years after college at Western Kentucky University and seeing a lot of what the world had to offer, she says she found herself back in Bowling Green doing what she loves. “At the end of the day, it’s the people in my life that count, not where I am on the map. I have an incredibly strong travel bug in me, but none of that is important without people to share it with,” she says. Family is extremely important to Mandy. She says her little brother is one of her best friends and she has a lot of people in the community that she considers family.

Mandy’s first job was being a nanny. “I’m pretty sure I’m actually just a 13-yearold living in a 35-year-old body,” she says. “So, I think it’s probably fitting that I spent the majority of high school and college carting around and playing with kiddos.” She says that she learned more in handling a wide array of tiny human personalities than she ever would have in an office. “The skills we learn from children about conflict management, patience, and a happy way to see the world are priceless,” she says.

Now, Mandy says taking pictures truly makes her happier than anything. The families she photographs are so much more than clients to her. “I look forward to catching up with them every year, seeing their children grow into young adults, documenting first birthdays and missing teeth, engagements and first kisses as Mr. and Mrs. There is really nothing like it.”

Mandy is also a member of the Women’s Fund of South Central Kentucky, and is extremely proud of the group of women. She also serves as a volunteer photographer for Adopt-A-Golden Nashville Foundation.