Capturing Life's Stages: Donna Quesada's Photography Session in Smithsburg Studio
In a world that often seems obsessed with youth, where age is a mere number, Donna Quesada's story stands as a testament to embracing the beauty of every stage of life. Life is an incredible journey, filled with countless stages and chapters. Each stage brings its own unique beauty, and today, we have an amazing story to share with you. We're taking you on a delightful ride into the life of Donna Quesada, who recently had a photography session in our Smithsburg Studio. Join us as we explore her inspiring journey of self-discovery and embracing her current stage in life.
The Awakening
Have you ever reached a point in life where you paused to reflect on the journey so far? I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Donna, a woman on the cusp of a new chapter in her life, as she prepares to celebrate her 64th birthday. Donna, a dedicated medical professional for four decades, and a mother of three for the same amount of time, is now shifting her focus towards her long-held passion for the arts. In our conversation, she shared her thoughts on her journey and the decision to have a photoshoot to capture this transformative moment.
“I'll be 64 tomorrow and kind of reflecting on how I'm going to move forward and the next chapter of my life. Being full time medical person, professional for 40 years now, and this year he'll be 40 years mom of three. So, I've had different roles and moving towards my first passion in the arts. I needed to have some more professional photographs where I am right now in my life and not how I was 20 years ago. Although I was a really hands on mom, as adult children, I have spent less time with them and realized after the passing of my own mother a few years ago how important family really is and just reconnecting with people and looking at the blessings of my life and just starting to cherish them even more as I get older. So that's what I'm looking forward to. The next chapter.” – Donna
Donna Quesada: Maryland-Born Artist
Donna Quesada, a Maryland native, found her passion for the arts early in life. Her journey began with a love for theater, dance, and music, but she soon discovered her talent for drawing and painting. After a stint in Southern California, where she raised her family, Donna returned to Maryland and embarked on formal art training in Frederick.
Over the past two decades, Donna has honed her skills in acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, and oil painting. She captures the extraordinary in everyday life and her travels, filling numerous sketchbooks with watercolor works. Donna has also ventured into ceramic arts, where she adds her unique illustrations to the surface design.
Her art is proudly exhibited in the Frederick, Maryland area, and she is a resident artist at the Griffin Visual Art Center. Explore her inspiring work click here. Donna Quesada's artistic journey exemplifies the power of following one's passion.
Inspiration Strikes: Donna's Decision to Embrace a Photoshoot
When I asked her what led her to consider a photoshoot, Donna recounted the inspiration she drew from a friend who had participated in a similar campaign the year before. She was deeply moved by the captivating photos that truly captured her friend's personality. It prompted Donna to reflect on her own reluctance to engage with such projects and to see herself through the lens of a camera. She realized it was time to embrace her current self, to feel comfortable with her appearance, and to commit to having photographs that authentically reflected her at this stage of life.
“Well, a friend of mine had this photo shoot last year during this campaign. Really brought out her personality. I thought they were just awesome photos and realized that I shied away from projects or looking at myself in photographs. But I felt that it captured my friend so much. I said, okay, it's time. It’s time to just embrace how I look, where I am in this part of my life and just commit to having photographs that reflect where I am now.” – Donna
Preparing for the Photoshoot: Donna's Unconventional Approach
As for her preparations leading up to the photoshoot, Donna admitted that her busy life had left her with little time to overthink the project, which, in hindsight, she found to be a blessing. Her morning of the photoshoot was filled with simplicity, beginning with waking up at 6:00 am, a leisurely nail session, and selecting outfits. She made some last-minute additions to her choices, opting to let the process unfold naturally. Donna chose to let go of expectations and any potential disappointments, seeking a genuine portrayal of herself.
“I was up until this morning having even just a few hours, just say, okay, no expectations. I’ve been thinking about clothes to wear, ordered a few things with the advice of my friend. And because my life is just so full, I'm doing art almost full time when I'm not doing my full-time job. I really didn't have time to overthink this project, which was actually good. So, when I got up this morning, slept into 06:00, did my nails, and just started to think about looking in my closet. And I had some things I was going to bring, but just some after thoughts. So, I really was interested in somebody else showing me who I am now than to try to overthink and over prepared and have any disappointment.” – Donna
The Day of the Shoot: Donna's Comfort and Creative Spirit
When asked about her feelings during the shoot itself, Donna described the experience as "awesome." She confessed to feeling somewhat startled by the makeup, as she rarely wore it in her daily life. However, it was the creative aspects of the photoshoot that began to ignite her excitement. The idea of incorporating flowers into her art and exploring her creative spirit brought out her authentic self. She found herself most comfortable with her hair pulled back, which was her usual style, but she also embraced other outfits that represented where she is headed in her life journey.
“This was awesome. I felt very comfortable, kind of with all the makeup, because I don't wear makeup. Was a little startled with how I looked. I think I felt what really started to get me really excited is just taking my art and putting flowers in there and just starting to think about my creative spirit. During the whole shoot, I really liked it when my hair was back because my hair is back most of the time, and it felt more like me, but the other outfits was more like where I'm going. So, to summarize all that, it was a good experience. I felt relaxed and very comfortable, and it didn't seem get you. It was very fun.”-Donna
In summary, the photoshoot was a positive and enjoyable experience for Donna. She felt relaxed, comfortable, and truly herself during the session. It was an opportunity for her to celebrate her creative spirit and to capture this exciting new chapter in her life.
Donna Casada's story is a testament to the power of embracing change and celebrating the different stages of life. Through this photoshoot, she has found a way to capture her true self at this moment and to continue her journey with confidence and enthusiasm. We wish her all the best in her pursuit of art and in cherishing the blessings of her life as she enters the next chapter.
All the best,
Diana