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

Hi Sahmia, how do you think about risk?
Risk is the thin line between your comfort zone and the infinite possibilities of the universe. Risk by definition means exposure to danger. However, I think of taking risks as opportunities to expand our human experience, to feel more, to be exposed to more than our comfort will allow. Personally, I’ve always taken risks just out of curiosity to where it would lead. As a photographer, taking risks has afforded me the opportunity to travel around the world to shoot yoga retreats as well as having work displayed at UCLA. Risk has opened my eyes to the power of manifestation and what it really means to have a vision come into fluorescent. Taking risks has taught me to see the lesson and the blessing in all of life’s situations.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was influenced at a young age by my uncle who is a veteran photographer. Photography has afforded me the opportunity to travel around the world and around the state to capturing transformational moments. With an array of subjects in my portfolio, I found my niche in Fine Art curating a photography project called Bare; Expressions- The Art of Vulnerability. Bare; Expressions is a photography anthology that shares the life experiences of 11 women all surrounding the topics of love, self-acceptance, courage, faith, perseverance, and vulnerability. I found that people can show who they are and how they feel better then they can tell you, I asked these women to show me how they felt on camera. The responses and the photographs were so raw, unlike anything I had ever photographed. It really inspired me to dig a little deeper and ask the women in-depth questions about past experiences and the lessons. Photography is a tough field there is so much to learn about the craft it’s self, especially in an iPhone dominate world. Cell phone cameras have taken the place of physical cameras, humans and it really ruins the true form of Art within photography. I love picking up my camera and physically touching it. I am inspired by real-life experiences and the story of those around me “We are more alike than we are different and the more we embrace ourselves and our peers as they are the easier life tends to be”. I enjoy capturing the first moments of a new family, the serenity of a yoga retreat, and the excitement that lives inside of music events. As a deep thinker, I spend a lot of time writing about my experiences and the life lessons I have gained from them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being native to Los Angeles I would take my friend to my favorite open-mic jam session called the Juice Joint. A lot of local musicians come together to play live music. Its unlike anything I’ve deer experienced before. Inglewood has one of the best teashops around called mingles which is black-owned. The owner is very friendly and is always so welcoming. We would then take a trip to Leimert park to buy books and to vibe to the drum circle. Because LA is a music town there is never a shortage of live music. You can find it anywhere in the city. We would eventually make our way through Koreatown and downtown to hit up my favorite coffee shop and Cafe Loft. I enjoy the simplicity and diversity of LA’s culture so I would want to do my best to show my friend all of the best Authentic parts of the City.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ashley Guinn of Natural Nana Co

Website: www.sahmiaase.org
Instagram: beingsahmiaase

Nominate someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.