Photographer

We first reached out to Chris in the fall of 2012 when we asked to use one of his images for our year one retrospective. Now, over a year later, we’ve reached out to him again—this time for an interview. Little did we know the journey he had set out on over the past year, leaving the security of his day job for a new pursuit: photography, something that he once only considered a hobby. Now, his path is unfolding, and we’re excited to see where it leads. As you read his story, be encouraged: perhaps the pursuit that is most fulfilling is one that has been there all along. Don’t be afraid to give it a try. —Tina

Helena Price doesn’t wait around for opportunities—she creates them. As a kid, she approached photography with a great sense of purpose. Capturing her life on film was far from being a frivolous childhood hobby: it was the purest form of documentation she knew. This dedication to storytelling became a driving force during college, when she toured with bands to capture life on the road, and later when she began a career developing marketing narratives for tech startups. This past spring, Helena decided to focus on another story: her own. In a bold move, she left her career in tech to pursue photography full-time. Now, Helena is writing a story for herself that she had previously only dreamed of, and she encourages us to do the same. —_Tammi

Most of what Zack Arias knows about being a photographer was learned the hard way. After almost flunking out of college twice, getting divorced, going into crippling amounts of debt, and moving into his brother’s basement, Zack was convinced that his dream of being a photographer wasn’t meant to happen. But with the help of a close friend and a new, more reverential approach to photography, he realized he wasn’t meant to do anything else. Since then, Zack has worked hard to become an accomplished commercial photographer, racking up a major client list and a massive online following. It took years of mistakes and misfortune to get where he is today, but he teaches us that learning from those mistakes can oftentimes be our greatest asset. —Tammi

Amazing things can happen when we say, “Yes,” and Esther’s story bears witness to the power of saying yes over and over, even without knowing the outcome—and even in the face of fear. Esther picked up her first camera at a young age, but it would be years before she would find herself at home behind the lens or realize the fullness of her calling to photograph people for who they are and not their circumstances. After seven years of journeying around the globe to photograph for a variety of nonprofits and causes, Esther’s story continues to unfold. As you read about her path, may you be reminded that anything is possible if you are willing to say yes and give it a shot, because your potential is greater than your circumstances. —Tina

Most of you likely know Jeremy for his photography work, but his legacy is sure to reveal a creativity that isn’t bound by any one discipline. Jeremy is a visionary with many, many ideas for the future, most of them unrelated to photography. Of course, it’s no surprise that he would try new things. That’s part of evolving as an artist, which Jeremy has already done; he first wanted to be a painter, then studied graphic design and had his own company before transitioning into photography. And now, he’s venturing into the role of entrepreneur by launching his first iPhone app. Perhaps the theme of his story, which can be applied to our own journeys, is that the path is always unfolding to reveal new adventures and if we embrace them and take a few risks, then who knows? We just might find the thing that’s been waiting for us all along. —Tina

It’s always a pleasure to interview someone who truly loves what they do, and Lara certainly does. She discovered photography at a young age and has worked diligently to break into the fashion scene and make a name for herself. Her drive, persistence, and talent have already paid off, which is amazing to consider since she still has a lifetime of work ahead of her. Read on about the path that led Lara from her small hometown in England to the bustling streets of New York City and be encouraged that no matter how young you are or where you’re from, you have something to say and a gift to share with the world. —Tina

Samantha’s passion for what she does is contagious; her talent, evident. Her images have a beautiful, effortless quality to them, which makes it hard to believe that she almost didn’t pursue photography. It was inspiring to learn about Samantha’s background in international affairs, why she spent years avoiding her creative side, and how, with support and a little push from a friend, she finally came around to do the thing she had loved all along. Despite doubt and fears, which Samantha spoke of candidly, she jumped head first into photography and taught herself everything about the business, from shooting to pitching. We hope her words will remind you that it’s never too late to try the thing that’s been in your heart all along. —Tina

Ike’s journey is an extraordinary one. He was born and raised in Nigeria and moved to the US as a teenager, where he went on to pursue an education in architecture. After college, as his career and passions evolved, Ike decided to pursue those interests. With the support of his family, especially his mom, Ike took on the challenge of reinventing himself multiple times, first as a designer and then as a photographer. We’re grateful to Ike for telling his story with such honesty and openness and we hope that it will inspire you to not only dream about doing what you love, but to actually do it. —Tina