It has been so long since I could bring myself to write anything here. Perhaps that would normally be because I don’t have anything to say. However, this time, it’s because I have too much.

I’m sure I’ll go back as I process things and write them out, but for now, today’s photo shoot is what this one is about.

When I started taking photos, I had no idea it was magic.

I was just a kid, with my dad’s 110mm camera.

Throughout high school, I knew I had such a connection with clicking that shutter button and being able to keep those memories that would otherwise slip away with time.

By the time I was out of high school, that camera was my ticket to all the concerts, and it became a part of me. I felt so out of place not having a camera in my hand. Even mundane, everyday things seemed weird if not witnessed through the viewfinder.

A few detours, and two different colleges later (one for Marketing and the other for Music), I found myself at The Art Institute of Atlanta.

At the time, it felt like one of the most courageous things in the world to me. I guess I still look back on it that way, but while I was there, it almost sucked the art out of me.

I’d shown up wide eyed and hoping to learn how to finally be able to take the photos I had in my head. I sort of got that? I have mixed feelings on the whole thing, but no matter what, it took me down a road I would have never gone down without it.

After graduating, I felt so far away from art. It broke my heart, but I kept pushing forward with all the things I thought I was supposed to do. You know, life and all. It has a way of yanking art away from you.

Eventually, I found my way back.

I found my people, I found my photography home, and I found the people who were meant to be in front of my camera. What a blessing and what a relief.

It’s scary when you’re an artist. You worry if the next trend will be what takes you out, or if people will like you one day, then forget all about you the next. For me, I used to be terrified of other photographers. I’m sure a lot of that has to do with the fact that I didn’t know any kind ones. They were out for money and status, and that was it. They didn’t seem to care about the people they were photographing.

Unfortunately, life happened again, and I lost my art.

The difference is, when I found it again, I promised to never let it go.

While there have been weeks when I didn’t feel inspired, I have pushed through. The neatest thing now is that people are so supportive. They truly see my vision alongside me. Even if they can’t see it, they trust me enough to cheer me on.

I went from not being able to give my photos sessions away, to being able to pay my bills with my camera.

Most of you know that summer just isn’t my season. I don’t do heat, and I am not a fan of mosquitos. So, while most people have seasonal depression during the winter, mine happens during the summer.

Just like most summers, I was losing my spark. Going back to that promise I made myself, I jumped into action this week.

I did a fun shoot…just for the love of it today.

I LOVED this shoot! Even though I had a loose plan for what I wanted, it took on a life of its own, as most of my art does.

I’m sure I’ll share more from it soon, but for now, I’m sharing one of the headshots.

What was so neat about this shoot is that I forced myself to shoot differently than I normally do. The result took me straight back to my high school era (in a good way).

I also took a few minutes and did another thing I rarely do: I played with the editing. I love every single one for a different reason. So, I’m sharing all the different versions.

Something beautiful happened when I let go of my rigid pattern. I broke a lot of photography rules today, and I loved it. I laughed, and I was so excited that the music I love so much was on her playlist!

This girl is absolutely gorgeous, and I’m so grateful she spent her afternoon with us!

If you love something, it’s not by mistake. And if it is something you are meant for, it won’t allow you to let go of it for too long before it’s knocking on your door again.

~Alisha