Jessica Anderson -The Liberated Collection-

I walk to the front door, it's a modest home near a locally famous water park --which was recently renamed to sound more like a debauched movie title--, butterflies start to flap their wings in my stomach, which come standard in the opening minutes to each of my shoots, I deliver a long knock. The music stops momentarily, while she introduces herself and we become acquainted. She's polite, held back, but quietly excited.


What followed was a concert of sorts. Jessica Anderson brought to life an ordinary living room,  and with the piano as her animator, life instantly became sweeter. What a blessing it must have been to have grown up in that house as one of her siblings. She's a decorated piano player, playing for her school & church choir --she even plays the organ--, yet she isn't content with being "the girl that plays the piano", as she simply puts it. Yes she competes in piano competitions, but she's unwilling to let divine talent define her future, a bold dismissal of a projected path for her. You have to admire that bravery and independence. Jessica Anderson is fascinated by photography, she fell for the art medium last summer as she began experimenting with her mom's SLR, and has decided to pursue this further at ASU.


Throughout our time together it became evident that this gentle blondie was focused. She seemed driven. I contemplated where that motivation came from, a question that is proposed in my mind after my time with these young people, who seem so unaffected by brooding doubts and scary uncertainty that normally accompanies the stage after high school. The kids stand a chance. This girl more than all of us. This is Jessica Anderson.