07/09/2026
Over the summer I got to do something I’ve wanted to do for a REALLY long time.
I went to Elizabeth Messina’s workshop in Ventura, CA.
I’ve been obsessed with Elizabeth’s work for a really long time. Her work has always felt different to me. Romantic, beautiful, a little imperfect, and just so full of feeling. So getting the chance to actually learn from her after admiring her for that long was pretty incredible.
But what I loved most about the workshop was how it made me feel.
It reminded me so much of being a little young thing in art school. Back when I was constantly looking at things differently and trying to figure out how to make something beautiful out of what I was seeing. There wasn’t a formula. I wasn’t thinking about what people would like or what I was “supposed” to create. I just wanted to make beautiful things.
Somewhere along the way, when your art also becomes your business, I think you lose a little bit of that.
For a couple of days, I got to forget about all of that and just be an artist again.
I came home wanting to play more. Experiment more. Pay attention to the little things. And create things just because I think they’re beautiful.
After doing this for as long as I have, it felt really good to be reminded why I fell in love with photography in the first place.
Thank you, Elizabeth. I think I needed that. 🤍
Elizabeth Messina
