Born in Houston, Texas in 1968, Allen studied Studio Art and Art History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and at Trinity College in Rome, Italy. She also attended the Museum of Fine Art Houston’s Alfred C. Glassell School for photography. Allen’s work can be found at koelsch gallery in Houston, Texas, and Photo-eye Gallery's Art Photo Index, and Argus Gallery online. Her images are in the permanent collections of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and multiple private collections. Her work has been displayed in conjunction with Fotofest ‘98, Fotofest 2000, and Fotofest 2016, and select images have been licensed by Sony, Hasselblad, and Apple. She was an Artist-in-Residence for the National Parks Service in 2012. In addition to her photographic studies, Allen also earned a Master’s in Art History from Rice University and a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Iowa.

She has recently returned to the United States after living in Sweden, and currently lives in Texas with her family. When not taking photographs, she volunteers as a Master Gardener.