"It's a Beautiful Life": Part 1. {Sorelle}

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus

Introduction:

This photo project is a very special and personal one. As most of my friends know, 2013 had a rough start for me. I went through one of the hardest transitions I've ever gone through. There were times when I didn't think I would make it through, I couldn't see where my life was headed, I was more lost then I had ever been. Little did I know, amazing things were ahead. The last couple of months have been so enlightening and incredible, and I have never felt so blessed in my entire life. It's amazing how much can happen in just a couple months. I have already had so many life experiences and learned so much. Some things have come easy to me and some things I've learned the hard way, but in the end it all shaped who I am, and it all makes me stronger. So many amazing people have come into my life, that now, I don't know what I would do without them. One of the most important things I've learned is how important family and friends are, and how special true friendships are. I have learned that in times of sadness and pain, your family and friends will stay by your side no matter what. No matter how bad it gets, they will always be there. And in my case, even if you just met. Words cannot describe how much I love my friends for being so patient, staying by my side, and getting me through my hard time. I truly would not be where I am today without them. I felt so blessed and overwhelmed with love that I wanted to honor them some how. During that time I also lost touch of my passion, and I recently realized that I had stopped taking photos for myself. Taking photos feeds my soul, it makes me happy. So I thought, what better way to honor my friends, then showing the world how wonderful they are, they way I do it best. That's when I came up with this project. I decided to photograph my closest friends, the ones who have really been there for me the last couple months. I want to show all of you how beautiful they are inside and out. These are the most wonderful, genuine girls I have ever met and I am the luckiest girl in the world to call them my best friends. My goal is to capture their spirits, their true, individual, unique personalities. I want you to look at these photos and feel like you know them. Each one of them is so different, and each one of them is amazing in their own way, and I can't wait to introduce them to you all, one at a time!

I named this project "It's a Beautiful Life" well, because life is beautiful and best friends are the people we get to share it with, they are what make it so special. And because the biggest thing I have gotten out of this whole experience is to live life to the fullest, to be as positive as you can and don't take life for granted. Appreciate what you have and the people who are in it. I don't know what lies ahead, or where I'll be in the future, but what I do know is as long as I have my friends and family I'll be ok :)

Sorelle is very special to me. As cheesy as it sounds, I'm almost positive Sorelle is the girl behind the phrase "your smile lights up the room." Because she truly does. There is never an ounce of negative energy when you are around her. She is one of the strongest girls I have ever met, and truly one of my biggest inspirations. She has been through so much in her life, and the way she can take such terrible things and turn them into something good and positive, is beyond beautiful. Instead of pitying herself, she fights to make sure no one else has to suffer through the pain she has known. She has taught me so much about life. She is so caring and kind, incredibly beautiful, and you instantly feel like you can trust her with anything. And that is a very rare quality to find in someone. She really played a big part in being there for me. It would be a shame to not ever meet this girl, and I feel so blessed to have her as a friend.
We had so much fun on our photo adventure, driving around beautiful SLO, dancing, blasting music, chasing the sun, and I think her joyful spirit really shows in these photographs. So without further ado, meet my wonderful friend, Sorelle <3