There is beauty in the life you’re living right now. 

Even if it doesn’t look like what you imagined.

Even if it isn’t following the timeline you planned.

Even if it doesn’t look like what you see out in the world.

I promise that you are living memorable, photo-worthy moments.  It might not feel “perfect” according to some make-believe standard, but there is still beauty in your life and it deserves to be appreciated.

I see the influence social media and comparison have made on us. We are made to believe that life happens in a steady rhythm of milestones, that photos need something to announce, that our successes determine our worth. 

But none of that is true. 

Life isn’t a steady rhythm, it’s a constant battle of time racing and crawling. 

Photography is for documenting our lives and creating images that make us feel something. 

There is more than one version of success. 

Even so, I know it can be heart breaking when the life you envisioned doesn’t materialize.

I see that we have become conditioned into thinking our photos need to look a certain way. We want our photos to look like the ones we see, the ones we’ve deemed to be ideal. We want to fit the mold. There is nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with those beautiful photos, nothing wrong with dreaming of a beautiful life; but these narrow standards make it extra difficult to appreciate the present when it doesn’t fit the “standard.”

I want you to know, you are still experiencing a beautiful life. 

You are working, you are waiting, you are learning, you are living. Most of our lives are lived in the waiting, in the middle ground between accomplishments, in the hard work of putting one foot in front of the other day after day.

I promise, there is just as much beauty in the waiting and hard work as there is in the great achievements. Maybe even more so. This is where you find your strength, learn patience, and practice gratitude. There is more beautiful story in the meantime, than there is in the happy final ending. 

If you can’t see the beauty all around you, maybe I can show you.