Light the shadows on your face

So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face

If a great wave shall fall
It'd fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

- The Calling, "Wherever You Will Go"

Gosh. What a week this has been.
Normally I don't like to get too personal with my blog posts, but it's important every once in awhile to be vulnerable. I won't give too much away (the song lyrics will give you a hint), because I don't want to detract from the images. This week I've been going through some major life changes. It's a very transformative period in my life right now. I'm taking some steps that are necessary to better myself and further my career. It's terrifying. Lots of sleepless nights and anxiety. Despite this, I'm diving head first into this new chapter. These pictures are representative of that (even though they are quite simple (I keep reminding myself that they were only test shots...)).

I met Hannah about a month ago at a weekly shindig in Vancouver. The instant I saw her I said to myself "I need to photograph her. Holy smokes." I struck up a conversation by simply stating "I wasn't a creeper" but I'd love to photograph her. Thank goodness she said yes. We managed to find some time a few days ago to head out to Skidmore Bluffs in north Portland to get some test shots. I used a friend's lens (the 85mm 1.8 for you camera buffs), which was a whole new ball game for me. I freakin' loved it. I love these images. I can't believe she's not doing this as a career because look at her jawline! 

Anyway, after shooting these images, I finally had the courage to email a modeling agency in the area. It's a crucial step that a photographer must take if they want to get into the industry. I've been getting in my own way for a long time... always thinking I could do better. Always wanting to improve my portfolio before I sent my images off to be dissected. But then these happened. I feel like these were the missing puzzle piece.