From the quiet of the studio to the buzz of community events.

For years, I've known exactly what to expect when I pick up my camera. As a portrait photographer, I've built my work around connection: one subject, one story, and the trust that grows when two people take time to get to know each other. Recently, I traded that familiar setting for something completely different, and I would like to share my experience with you all. My comfort zone has always been the studio or a carefully chosen location: one-on-one (or two), a controlled environment, and an established relationship with the person in front of my lens. That familiarity lets me focus on what I love most: recording your personality and story through the lens.

Lately, I have become bored waiting for assignments and sessions since my last three sessions were canceled. I asked my daughter and a friend for help. Enter the world of community events, completely different from what I am used to. There's no controlled lighting, no scheduled storyboard, a completely fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants environment, and, at first, no existing relationship. I was excited about the change of venue, but honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect or how to prepare. On Friday night and Saturday, I captured live action at Dillon’s Western Trails Ranch. It was my first visit, and I discovered it is a concert venue, BBQ restaurant, petting zoo, rodeo grounds, and all-around family friendly weekend hotspot! Who knew? Probably you all, not me. I covered the Kristen Merlin four-hour concert, and she is such an entertainer. Her voice range is enviable (there is nothing she cannot cover, including Baby Shark and Vanilla Ice). As the light faded, I reluctantly added flash, because performers do not need that sudden bright light in their faces, but I was assured it did not impair their performance. On Saturday, AZ Desert CMA was spotlighting female artists and between the rain offerings we were able to hear Peyton Grace and Ashley Wineland. Big voices, lovely personalities. The following week I was able to check out the Phoenix Fashion Week meet and greet and press conference at the Wild Horse Pass. What a blast it was watching true professionals move through the participants, capturing the quickly changing action, and hearing journalists identify themselves and their publications before asking valid questions. I have a BA in journalism and communications, but until now I had not put that knowledge to work. What fun it has been stepping out of the studio into the world of community photojournalism.

Lesson 1: Simplify the Gear

I went in carrying two cameras with different lenses thinking I could switch modes quickly. What I discovered is that juggling two bodies slows you down. You miss moments while switching cameras. What I really need is one camera set up for both stills and video, paired with a varied selection of lenses. Fewer things to manage means more attention for what's happening in front of me.

Lesson 2: Widen the Frame

Naturally, I did what I do best as a portrait photographer. I focused on my subject and adapted to the changing light, which is normal in event photography, but reviewing the images showed me that there is more to this than what’s on stage. It's the groups gathered together, the merchandise tables, the interactions, and the atmosphere that make the story what it is.

Lesson 3: Show Up Ready for Anything

In the studio, trust is built before I ever pick up the camera. In the community, I am walking into the unknown, building the story on the spot with people I've never met. How refreshing it is to watch strangers transform into friends working together toward the same goal. I stepped into a world foreign to me and learned to fly.

Lesson 4: The People Make It Worth It

Here's what surprised me most: the people I met were all about promoting and helping others. Artists, designers, organizers, and fellow creatives were chasing their own dreams while lifting each other up, and many of them were figuring out this new world too. That spirit of generosity made the unfamiliar feel a lot less intimidating. I am not the only one learning as I go, and I am thankful for the compassion shown to a gal in unfamiliar territory.

In a day when photography businesses are challenged, there will be another way to serve if you are willing to let go of the familiar and embrace the different. My skills and personality are grounded. Now I get to carry them into a bigger space among people who understand how important it is to tell the right story at the right time about the right people. To my friends and clients, thank you for being part of my journey.

To everyone finding this blog for the first time, welcome. If you're standing at the edge of your own comfort zone, take the step. Your world might just get bigger too.