Getting there.

Yay for first blogs! Okay, I'm really going to be transparent and personal with you from the green-light. This way you can really get to know what makes me, me. The rest of my blogs will be more discussing struggles and excitements I have while shooting, and tips for your own photographs.

I'm currently standing as a Junior, studying in Chicago. Oh yeah, the best part is, I am studying photography and management! My BA is a four year program, and is not as easy as one might imagine, but I'm loving every part of it!!! Here's a little bit about how I got here...

Growing up as an Army kid I've never attached myself to anywhere longer than four years. Moving from Indiana - Colorado - Germany - Kansas - Virginia - Iowa. Each place I went I involved myself in various sports: soccer, horse-back riding, swimming, track and field. I was unaware that the occasional popping of my joints was going to completely redescribe my understanding of the concept "mind over body".

In my freshman year of high school, a pair of extra cervical ribs were found to be causing a condition referred to as TOS or Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. TOS was caused by my extra rib compressing an artery that lead to my brain, causing me to feel weak and often pass-out from the restricted blood flow. I had to complete my spring finals weeks in advance so I was able to remain absent for the remainder of the semester, for rib removal surgery and recovery. Later that summer I had my second rib removal surgery. The risk with this particular surgery is there is a nerve in your chest that is connected to your diaphragm, and if they bump the diaphragm it could collapse. During the operation the doctors did hit it, only bruising the nerve, making my breathing painfully shallow. I couldn’t attempt to sleep without the machine next to my bed blaring in my ear and nurses instructing me to breathe. I had to inhale…and exhale into a tube every couple hours to restrengthen my diaphragm.

In the middle of my sophomore year, we moved to Iowa from Virginia, where I once again had to adjust to a new school system and get re-involved in school activities. I pushed to involve myself again into athletics, however therapy and pain levels made it difficult to give my full effort.

Two weeks into my Junior year I was admitted into the MAYO Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for joint reconstruction surgery on my collarbone due to pain from daily dislocation. This surgery finally finished my pursuit in sports. I struggled with having my independence stripped. My life up to this point was full of activity, now I required help with baths, carrying books, not even being able to lift a milk gallon. Reevaluating and adapting to what I was now able to do, I devoted my time to passionately pursuing photography.

Spring of my Junior year I placed 17th in the Iowa All-State Art, first in Pleasant Valley High School history to rank in the top 20% of the competition. I photographed for both yearbook and the school newspaper. I began being commissioned to shoot senior portraits, families, and weddings.

Then, I was diagnosed with a chronic joint pain condition, hyper mobility syndrome, leading to a fourth surgery in December of 2014 my senior year. Reflecting back, to the periods of depression I went through as I was told a long list of activities I could no longer participate in, I wish I could have known about the doors God had propped open for me. I now pursue a career in photography at Columbia College Chicago, doing what I love. Totally open to the options of the future.

For me, stopping everything to enjoy the moment, IS picking up my camera and shooting that moment. Very few things bring me that much excitement, so I know that I've found what to do until I can't do it any longer.

Thanks for your support! I'm excited to see where we can go with this!

With Love,

Victoria Campbell

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