Ruthie’s roots are in photojournalism and art.  She received a scholarship to attend Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, where she majored in photography and minored in drawing.  She interned at the Irish Times Newspaper in Dublin, Ireland.  Upon graduation, she launched her photography business and in 2006, was hired as a Staff Photographer by Sun-Times Media. There she worked for almost 7 years covering memorable events such as the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the 2008 Olympic Trials for Track and Field in Eugene, Oregon, and Paul McCartney at Wrigley Field.  During her tenure at Sun-Times Media, she earned 18 State and National Photojournalism awards.  In the summer of 2012, Ruthie and her husband welcomed their first child, and she made the decision to give up her staff position to focus on her business and her new role as Mom.  Ruthie and her husband now have two young sons and a huge cat.  They try to live simply and enjoy outdoor recreation, live music, a good glass of wine and travel.  In 2017, Ruthie and her family relocated from the Chicago area to Madison, WI. In 2020, as the world was turned upside down by the new coronavirus pandemic, Ruthie accepted a full-time position as a Visual Journalist for The Cap Times in Madison and was promoted to photo director in 2022.

On assignment, Ruthie is usually doing whatever is necessary to get the best possible photo, whether it be sloshing through a ditch, balancing on the roof of a skyscraper, flying in a blimp or standing in a bathtub.  She loves every minute of it.