Meet Thea Limon | Photographer & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Thea Limon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thea, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m from Big Bear Lake, California. A cute mountain town that many might see in Hallmark movies or on a weekend getaway to nature. I was born in California but raised in North Carolina until I was 12. My father moved my family back to California because of his love for the state, and we ended up in the San Bernardino Mountains. We’ve never left twenty years later. My background always involved a camera; I was the person who wouldn’t put a camera down and wanted to take photos of every precious moment we had. Later, my husband motivated me to get a professional camera and try it out. That was the day everything changed for me. I found my calling the minute I looked through the viewfinder and saw the world in a new way. The smiles we don’t see, sadness around the eyes, or a moment of pure joy when someone drops to their knees and asks the BIG life-changing question can all be captured on my camera. It’s magical.

The most significant impact on my life was my father, who showed me what a true work ethic was. He worked hard for his family and still made it essential to have quality time together. He made me who I am, and I’m so blessed to have been raised with a man who taught me what a caring, loving, and amazing man should be. No matter what I wanted to do in life, he supported me. He was the one who said I could do anything, and he meant it. For a man who fought for everything he had, he was the most hopeful and faithful person. He taught me to trust and love the Lord; thankfully, I can express God’s love through photography through the beauty surrounding us in the Big Bear Valley.

Family is number one. My big brother is my best friend who calls me after every session to ask how it went and talk about every moment. I’m who I am today because my family shaped me to be someone who works hard for what I want, love hard, and finds the beauty all around me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Photography became a life raft for me during the darkest times. Covid-19 locked us in our home, but it locked me up with my camera and helped me to figure out that there is beauty in the dark. That time allowed me to focus solely on photography. When my clients invite me to be a part of their special moments, it’s uplifting and brings a smile to my face. There is nothing more pure and beautiful than seeing a daughter giggle at her father, a person asking their partner to become their husband or wife, or the contagious smiles from the bride and groom.

It wasn’t easy. I overcame every challenge by pushing through. My father was diagnosed with stage 4 Leukemia nine years ago, and we spent years in the hospital. His health was never the same again, and we all came together as a family to care for him. He never wanted us to pause our lives for him, so he kept motivating us to keep going. I lost my father a year ago, during the busiest time of my career. Through a time of grieving, I found happiness in my clients’ faces. Every father and daughter combo brought me joy, even a little sadness, but I kept thinking how wonderful it would be for them to have these photos in the future.

I’ve learned always to keep hope, know that God will work everything out, and never to put down my camera. I want the world to know that God has made everything possible in my life. My brand and story is just that; God is the reason for every success and I do this because of the talent He gave me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The best spot in Big Bear Lake is the Kissing Bridge. It’s a cute bridge that spans one side of the lake, which is currently dry, but we’re praying for it to fill back up in its full glory with some much-needed weather. Bring on all the snow!

My favorite restaurant in town is Oakside. It has the most amazing steaks and salads. You can’t beat their yummy cocktails or bruschetta! Now for pizza, I’d recommend Saucy Mamas. Their bbq chicken pizza is out of this world!

The cool little spots in town are the trails hidden in residential areas. Open up AllTrails and explore!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, Jeffrey Limon, deserves a shoutout because without him pushing me to jump headfirst into my passion for photography, I might not have done so. He’s one of the reasons for where I am today, and I’m grateful to have him as my best friend. He’s the reason why my story will have fairy tale happy ending.

Website: www.thealimon.com

Instagram: @thealimonphotography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thealimonphotography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/thea-limon-photography-big-bear-lake