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What do you create?
Photographs, primarily, but sometimes short stories and other eclectic writing.

What materials do you use to create?
Nearly all of my work created for clients is done in digital format. However, most of my personal work is done with film, pen, and paper.

Why do you create?
Creating settles my anxiety. There's something about the process that grounds me. I've never been able to 'turn off' my mind, and creating has become an incredibly useful too to help with that.

How has your art practice evolved since you first started?
I've stopped looking for inspiration in other people's work and started looking for inspiration in the people I'm photographing and their relationships. I've worked really hard to change the way I look at light, texture, but most importantly, the people I photograph. Everyone's stories are unique to them and I was missing that piece when I first started because I was too busy looking elsewhere for inspiration and missing the amazing stories right in front of me.

How much time do you spend on your art practice? Is it enough?
My heart is happiest when I'm creating on a daily basis and my heart has been pretty darn happy for quite a few years now so.

What is the most rewarding part of creating?
Having the privilege of being welcomed into people's families as one of their own. I have some families who I have been working with for over ten years now and I have seen them through engagements, weddings, pregnancies, births, and get to watch their families grow, sharing so many special moments along the way. The fact that I have these families who trust me enough to invite me to document these important moments in their lives is... well, I don't even have words for it. My eyes start to well with tears every time I talk about it.

Do you have a philosophy?
Growing up, my Dad always encouraged me to seek a future that would keep my heart happy. He told me numerous times throughout my life that if I was doing what made my heart happy, and was a hard worker, the money would come. He constantly reminded me that I would never be happy if I followed a career path solely for money. Every single path I've taken throughout my life has been one walked in an effort to make my heart happy, and my Dad was right

What does creative joy mean to you?
Being able to contribute in some way, with my art. Some days that means a contribution to my mental health, other days it's to a vacation fund. On really good days, it means contributing in a way that allows me to give back to my community and charities like the humane society which mean the world to me and my family.

FIND ALI ONLINE

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