“You are a revolution. The entire universe has been waiting for you.”
– Kiana Azizian
Recently, someone reached out to me on Instagram about my new tattoo. She told me how seeing mine was stirring her to want to go and get hers soon. I asked what she was going to get done, and she very openly told me what it would be along with why she chose that. She recently picked up a new venture in her life and also explained how she was starting to move her hobby into more of a side hustle and making transitions at her new job to be able to pursue those dreams. Anytime someone tells me something like this, my soul lights up! “Keep hustlin’ girl! Those big risks are always worth it!” I replied, knowing all too well the anticipation and discomfort that comes with pursuing your passion. She then told me that my story had inspired her and tears filled my eyes.
I didn’t know this woman. In fact, I have no idea how long she has been following my photography. But what I do know is that having her say that pushed me. It pushed me to be vulnerable, more than I have ever been. To actually share my story, and not just the tidbits here and there in social media captions. It encouraged me to tell the world wide web how I found myself pursuing my passion for photography, travel and adventure as a full-time, lucrative career. So here goes nothing…I will share my story and then give a few key tips that I feel like I learned along the way to hopefully help inspire you to turn your side hustle and passion into a career.
I wouldn’t say that I’m your typical family and maternity photographer. In fact, I steered clear of that for a very long time. Not that I don’t love babies, because I do. I just hadn’t connected with that life event yet, so I felt like it was super difficult for me to photograph. And if there is anything I need when I’m shooting, it’s a connection. I truly believe that how I do what I do.
One of my very dear friends, Kayley, recently accepted a travel nurse assignment in Seattle, Washington. It pained me to see her go, as we have grown much closer in the last several months. However, we started this new chapter for her (and our friendship) with a bang – a ten day road trip to move her to her new home. Along the way we made some stops at some of our bucket list places. One of those places was Yellowstone National Park.
