I have this funny story of standing in the dark in a, sort of, airplane hanger in the ‘90s at Santa Monica College, SMC. My summer photography instructor informed us of an orientation happening for a new digital media program — this, before there barely was digital media, digital anything.

I stood in the dark in the back of this airplane hanger as an instructor told us that movie studios were having trouble finding US-based digital animators, going to Europe and Japan to find them. He said SMC was partnering with the studios to teach digital animation, but it was all a test run. We would be part of the very first class of something, he didn’t know what, but this dimly lit airplane hanger was the beginning of it.

That group of about 20 of us in the dark in the back of that airplane hanger at that inaugural orientation were what would become one of the world’s first digital animation programs, then an Academy of Entertainment and Technology, and then a Center for Media and Design on a newly built second campus for SMC.

About 20 of us — in the dark.

If you’d like to be part of this first class of animators, he said, step forward.

Step forward, he said — into the light, out of the dark. Literally into the light. Out of the dark.

I didn’t.

I physically held myself back. Life couldn’t be this benevolent. Held myself back with every ounce of willpower I had.

I didn’t step forward — and went on to get a political science degree.

Hi, I’m Mona. And before I became a photographer, I was a competitive figure skater, a student of political science, an office worker, a writer, a background extra on Beverly Hills 90210 (that’s true!). Oh, so many things!

And now, I’m a photographer.

Now I study photography with amazing teachers

I say this because I’ll bet there’s a part of your life you’re denying — a part you’re talking yourself out of, trying to talk sense to, reasoning with, negotiating with.

Stop. It’s no use. It will not stop at you. It will not leave you alone.

I bet, especially if you’ve done a great job burying it deep, it’s the most frightening thing you’ll ever do. It may stop you in your tracks shuddering in fear, may bring up all the things, all the reasons why you can’t do this, why you’re so busy, why pipe dreams are impossible. And, of course, the kitchen needs cleaning once again for the hundredth time.

But, I tell you, it won’t stop at you. It won’t leave you be. It won’t leave you alone.

So stop denying it.

Life only ever makes sense if we become who we truly are. As my friend Rick says, sing to the music of your life, the music that’s playing now, that you’ve probably been ignoring for a long time.

You hear that music, I know.

Start singing, girl. Give your foot a tap. Give that dress a whirl.

Because even though it may scare the living daylights out of you, it’s the reason you’re here.

As my friend Seth Godin writes:

Fly closer to the sun.

In the nearly 30 years since then, I’ve often thought back to that moment.

I wonder what would have happened had taken that step.

Love won’t be denied —

not for a person or an endeavor/a process.

It was never meant to.

If you just release it, Abraham Hicks says, your cork floats. Your cork bobs on the waves of the truly benevolent Universe ocean which’s current leads you to all the wonderful things you truly desire, to the truth of who you really are, to happiness.

I now study and practice photography online under greats like Sue Bryce, Pye Jirsa, Chris Weston, and Elyna S. Blair. (I count you among them, Mr. Moriarty of SMC in the ‘90s. I count you among them.” I got an “A” in that class, by the way. Check out my final project! Hello Venice. I love this project.)

And at the end of a photo shoot or study session, I have more energy than when I started. As a result, every part of my life, every seemingly unrelated bit of every corner, is getting better.

And if that flying music involves a creative portrait session,

then let’s do this.

I offer creative portrait sessions that let your inner fairy fly, let your fairy queen rule the world she was meant to rule and

I offer all sorts of different packages: