Quick Snip about me
I have been passionate about photography since a very young age and always loved life with a camera in my hand, but in recent years I have geared myself more toward turning my passion into a career!
Growing up I always found beauty in the smallest of things, the little micro moments. A smile after a loved one compliments, or a gentle and loving hand grab after crying to show that you care. The belly laugh my grandfather used to bellow after I said " Watch this!" and seeing me twirl and toss honey suckle petals in my grandmother's garden for the 1000th time. The little ladybug crawling up the willow tree I had in my backyard, that I would sit in and read for hours on end, imagining all the lives lived in these stories creating vivid snapshots in my head. The list could go on. When I discovered I could capture these moments with a camera I had found my purpose, even if I hadn't fully realized it yet.
I was always told that I wouldn't be successful in such a saturated field and should probably have a better plan than this. "You need something safe and reliable Ali, you cannot make art a career." But once I decided to not listen to these people holding me back I have opened so many doors for myself and my family! Being provided the space to allow yourself to follow your dreams, be it by a partner or yourself is so important. Because life is short and spending every day doing something you hate isn't worth it. We should do whatever we can to enjoy this precious time we have! But it takes an immense amount of hard work and dedication to yourself as well as the support of those who love you and your village, which I've deeply learned since taking my business full-time and branching out into creating more meaningful friendships, inside and out of the photography community. I couldn't have managed doing this without my husband and the village of people I have in my life supporting and encouraging me to do what I love.
Becoming a mom during a pandemic really put my life and how I feel about myself in perspective. I no longer tolerate people holding me back, and that includes myself because if I allow people to do that to me, my daughter will too and we both deserve so much more than that. Once I came to this realization and healed my inner demons I began to trust in my vision of my art. I began to love who I was and what I can offer the world in telling their stories. Which helped me gain the courage to continue to grow and learn not only as a photographer, but as a wife, a mother and a friend!
So I suppose this is a PSA to put work into yourself and what you love to do first, and then you'll be able to be there for the ones you love without sacrifice. I hope you read this and see it as your sign to do what's best for you and follow your passions! It is possible and I believe in you!
