Yes, that is me rediculously happy above! It just so happened to be taken during one of the hardest months I have ever experienced in my entire life.
But I’m smiling BIG … why? How?
Cause I’m laying on one of my photographs turned into a 7ft wall print and I LOVE IT! I’ve loved photography since I was a little girl and actively enjoyed it as a hobby for many years before turning it into my business about a year and a half ago.
The photo I’m laying on I took with my first Nikon slr film camera almost 10 years ago while hiking in Red Rock outside of Las Vegas. During that time most of my spare change went towards developing countless rolls of film where I’d jump for joy if they were in focus. Pre-digital was a semi heartbreaking experience, I’d get 5 rolls of film back and maybe like 5 photos. But those photos that I liked are still some of my absolute favorites! There’s a feeling in them that my digital camera has not been able to reproduce. A Nikon digital slr of course 
that I very much love. So, getting a good 4×6 print back used to rock my world … seeing my photos developed into 7ft prints … well, that makes me do a cartwheel and cry at the same time. I can’t even put into words the joy it gives me.
It’s been about 4 years now since I left corporate America and Executive Admin jobs and traded in for the wondering vagabond turned ‘starving artist’ phase of my life. I’ve now sold more prints in the past 3 months then I have in the last year and a half, so … YEAH! Maybe ‘ultra successful artist’ is around the corner! Here’s the thing though, even if success never comes I’ll never stop pursuing my dream. I can’t. I love capturing moments with my camera and sharing those moments the way I see and feel them. I wish more then anything for my photography and wall prints to at the very least pay the bills, but whether the money comes or not the happiness sure as hell does! Following your dreams, doing what you love … it’s worth it! It’s worth every struggle and every penny!
Although there might not be very many pennies in the bank account at the moment I’m happy. I look at pictures of myself 4 years ago and barely recognize the person in them. But that person above laying on a 7ft photograph rolled out on the floor … I totally know her! I like her. She’s staying.
Check out Kiesha Jean Wall Prints on Etsy – some great new prints being added next week so stay tuned!
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