New Year, New Creative Goals

Welcome, 2024! During my annual winter escape, I’m back in Florida for a few weeks where I am spending a lot of time in my mom’s garden with my camera and my journal. After overcoming the last two years of medical challenges, it’s a huge relief to see my mom active and healthy again! We’re working on exciting creative projects together, and I’m so grateful for this special one-on-one time. Life is short, make your art!

Lately, I’ve been in a state of deep, pensive reflection about my life as a freelance creative — what I create, why and for whom. I’ve gone through a deep, personal journey and growth phase, and I’ve decided that 2024 will be the year I finally put my photography first.

How did I get here? There’s a bright side to when things fall apart; sometimes, it’s more like a teeny, tiny flicker of light that grows as you nurture yourself and discover what’s the most meaningful to your life. For a few years, I’ve struggled with the weight of dark clouds and have faced some major personal challenges during a family medical crisis, which eventually led to burnout that I’m in the midst of overcoming. But now the wind is shifting. I feel my spirit get lighter and brighter as I enter my metamorphosis phase. This year, a colorful butterfly will appear, and new chapters will appear. I am on my journey.

SETTING NEW INTENTIONS

In the last few months, I feel a lot of intense shifts happening both personally and creatively. Photography has often been a major motivation, a source of inspiration and positivity. After restoring my family heirloom Rolleiflex 2.8F,  I'm especially drawn to medium-format film. Sometimes, this unique, boxy camera feels a bit cumbersome, but I’ve been most inspired by the camera lately, so I’m happy to haul her around.

Incorporating photography actively into my daily life has always served as a form of self-care and self-expression that cultivates a sense of fulfillment and purpose. No matter what, I always felt better after walking in solitude with my camera in hand and curiously seeking out visuals that connected with my spirit.

This year, in an effort to encourage personal creative motivation and grow further with my visual storytelling, I have set a few photography goals for myself:

1: Commit to a monthly creative challenge

2: Start showcasing my photography publically

3: Open an online print shop

4: Book new clients for visual storytelling projects — bonus points if they have a budget for film!

5: Create a photography book or zine

I'm excited to share this journey with you and looking forward to getting started. Follow along, and please share more about your own creative journey, too!