It Just Clicked

One day, as I was scrolling through my instagram feed-- filled with amazing, impact-driven, photographers (as well as a load full of dogs)-- I stumbled across a post that caught my attention.

I immediately praised the instagram AI bots, thinking that they really nailed the adverts this time. But no, this wasn't a sponsored ad. This was real, posted by an organization called "Girls Who Click. The post featured a girl on a mountain, focused on her camera, with a sunstar shining across her pack. It read "Become an Ambassador. #GirlsWhoClick"

I don't know whether it was the sense of adventure that drew me to the photo or perhaps the camera set on the tripod. Maybe I was just power hungry and the word "Ambassador" sounded pretty neat to me. Either way, something resonated and I just had to find out more.

I read the post and checked out the Girls Who Click Website. I found out that this was a brand new ambassador program, aiming to empower a diverse array of young female identified photographers, helping them break into the nature photography industry- which is currently dominated by white, male photographers. The program would pair each ambassador with a professional mentor for a year to develop a portfolio, gain professional insight, and cultivate community within the industry.

As someone who has always fantasized about being a nature photographer, this was a chance to make my dream a reality. I scrolled through all of my past images, gathering 40 photos to submit with my application.

I had never put together a portfolio before. While I'm sure there are much more strategic approaches out there, I ended up embracing Marie Kondo's methodology: Does this bring me joy?

After about three hours, I selected a mosh of 40 images ranging from a snail on a pumpkin to a winter mountain-scape. This will have to do! I pressed send and waited with my fingers crossed. As you may have guessed by now, the news came back positive (though this blog could have easily been a lead up to disappoint with a hopeful message at the end to try again next year).

Fortunately, I am now a part of the Girls Who Click Ambassador program, alongside 23 other amazing photographers! Over the next year (and beyond) I will be honing my skills with guidance from the very talented Cathy Hart and actively working toward my dreams. Throughout my journey, I will be sharing lessons learned so tune into my blog to stay updated on this great adventure and the stories I am developing. I also encourage you to learn more about my fellow ambassadors and the Girls Who Click program!