[dropcap letter=”I”] have been taking pictures for as long as I can remember. The only thing that truly came naturally to me was creating. As I started to take my photography more seriously, one of the things I would often do is spend time at the bookstore and look at fashion magazines for inspiration. I vividly remember walking to the back of the store one day last year, and immediately spotting the oversized, bright blue, Vol. 15 of PATTERN Magazine. I quickly purchased it and flipped through it so many times that the spine started to come apart. It was not until I recognized a familiar name and did some research that I realized they were based in my hometown of Indy. I was shocked! This magazine, that stood next to Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar on the stand, was actually in my backyard.
Fast forward a few years when it came time to start applying for internships, and I did, to several different ones. I never imagined that I would be chosen to be a photographer for PATTERN, but it was my, “worth a shot” option. I was so convinced that I was not qualified for the position, that it fell off of my radar for a while. You can imagine my surprise when I received an email offering a summer position! I was so eager to start, despite my lack of professional experience and being a couple months deep into a pandemic.
I could go on forever about what an amazing experience this was, so I will save you some of the more minor details. Here are my top 3 takeaways from my time at PATTERN:
- Push yourself. I was taken out of my comfort zone on day one and stayed there. It was terrifying, but the growth I experienced in photography in the past six months was more beneficial than the past ten years of my life combined. I learned that if you are not doing things that scare you, you are doing it wrong. Taking risks almost always leads to a more successful outcome. It does not take long for the nerves to become excited energy, so just pull the trigger and start doing!
- Indy is full of talented, aspiring creatives. Take advantage of that and collaborate! I met so many talented and kind people during my time as an intern, both inside and outside of the office. My co-workers went from strangers to dear friends in a matter of twelve weeks. I am excited to see the different ways they all contribute to making Indianapolis a fashion and art destination.
- Be confident. I spent too much time second-guessing myself. In the beginning, I truly believed that I did not deserve to be here. Ignore those thoughts and create! The more you shoot, the more confident you will be.
I loved working here so much that I did not leave after the summer session. I stayed around for another three months and I don’t think they will ever really be able to get rid of me completely. I would recommend getting involved with PATTERN to anyone who asks, it will be the best experience of their life!