Using photography to be a bright light in dark times

This is my first post since the world went “dark”. It took me a few weeks to really come to terms with our current climate. I didn’t realize at first how to process my feelings. We are grieving, and it is ok. It didn’t feel right to continue posting as if everything was the same, because it is not. Our world has changed, we have changed, our priorities have changed. ⁠

As a photographer, we can be a bright light in dark times. Here are some ways to find creativity amidst uncertainty. Lean on your community, remember we are all in this together. Reach out to each other, send a quick text, ask them how they are doing, let them know you are thinking of them. A simple gesture can lift spirits. Take this time to handwrite a note to your clients, friends, and your family, let them know you love and appreciate them.

Collaborate with others to inspire creativity

I recently collaborated with Belle Lumiere Magazine and 6 other photographers to launch an educational bundle filled with guides and courses created by each artist. We not only built community through our own collaboration, but we also uplifted others by donating proceeds from our sales back to the creative community.

About our mountain top sunrise session

Megan and I were fortunate enough to spontaneously coordinate a sunrise session before most of the nation went on lockdown. I still had this beautiful Reclamation Design Company dress, which I had originally rented for a styled shoot planned for The Posada by The Joshua Tree House in Tucson, Arizona. Instead, Megan and I met up at 5:30 in the morning just a few minutes from my house and hiked to the mountain top overlooking the Wenatchee valley just as the sun was rising.

Get outside your comfort zone and try something new

I decided to develop and even scan my own black and white film at home. I purchased a Paterson film processing starter kit from B&H and finally had the time to give it a try. We will chat more on developing film at home later.

Since photography has been deemed “non-essential” I found something that is, gardening. I ordered some David Austen roses, Cafe au lait dahlias, and a variety of flower seeds from Floret Flowers to fill my garden boxes. I have spent hours planning and planting our new garden and am excited to see what blooms in the upcoming months.

Believe in humanity and share stories of compassion

This was the last shoot before our world was turned upside down. I hold these images so close to my heart as it signifies so much. To me, I choose to let it signify re-birth, sustainability, humanity, and compassion. ⁠

As a human race, we have been rocked, it has taken our entire globe to ban together to fight for survival. This is monumental. I believe in humanity, I believe that we will prevail, we will be stronger, we will be more compassionate, and we will begin giving back to our Earth that has given so much to us. ⁠