Sometimes, a small conversation in a coffee shop becomes the opening to something much bigger.

I first met Bekah because of a sticker. I was sitting in my favorite Pittsburgh coffee shop when I noticed the corner of a camera decal on her laptop. Curious, I asked if she was a photographer. That one question sparked a conversation that led us here—into the woods, beside a waterfall, sharing stories about creativity, self-trust, and starting over.

Bekah had just moved from Toronto to Pittsburgh, a bold leap into the unknown. She came here to reconnect with herself, to rediscover her voice through the lens of her camera. As soon as she mentioned that transition, I knew this was more than a passing moment—it was the beginning of a story worth capturing.

When we planned our session, I asked her what theme felt resonant. Without hesitation, she said flow. We decided to shoot near water, using it as a symbol of her creative current. We brought in a mirror too—not for aesthetics, but as a tool. A way to hold space for reflection, both literally and metaphorically.

The day of the shoot felt like a ceremony. She waded barefoot into the stream, quiet and present. Each frame became less about posing and more about presence. About being seen in the space between where she’s been and where she’s going.

During our interview, we talked about what it means to keep creating, even in uncertainty. Especially in uncertainty. That’s when she told me the quote she lives by:

“Create no matter what.”

It hit me immediately. That same quote was on another sticker I hadn’t even noticed on her laptop the day we met. Another small thread that had been quietly weaving this moment together from the start.

This is what I love about this work. It’s not just about the photos. It’s about witnessing someone in their becoming. It’s about trusting that the right people will find you, often in the most ordinary places, when you're paying attention.

What started as a passing question over coffee turned into something sacred.

Bekah reminded me that creativity isn’t about waiting for the perfect time or perfect version of ourselves. It's about choosing to create—no matter what.

To see the final images from our session and clips from our interview, visit me on Instagram @talie.feola