The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who knelt daily beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus.

But this was not how the author of the book ended the story.

He said that when Narcissus died, the goddesses of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.

'Why do you weep?' the goddesses asked.

'I weep for Narcissus," the lake replied.

'Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus,' they said, 'for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand.'

'But... was Narcissus beautiful?' the lake asked.

'Who better than you to know that?' the goddesses asked in wonder. 'After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!'

The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said:

'I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.'

'What a lovely story,' the alchemist thought.”

Why my heart has a quest and a thirst to create portraits. This story fits why my heart truly aches to create this art. When I photograph someone regardless if it's a headshot session, fine art, family, or sensual there is a deep power that transforms in my clients. It's like self-love on a level that amazes me. I see my soul and also my subjects soul. I don't know if this is a soul in the sense of God or it's the inner soul that we all entwined with. I just know this conclusion comes to me that a full circle has taken place.

This is one main reason why I make sure my clients go home with beautiful art. They see in the art this vessel of the love of who they are. In the sound of my voice hear my words exist in portraits. Your story matters and your quest matters. You are a brilliant light filled with these billions of atoms. More atoms than in the earth. 

Life, your life should be tangle-able. Your family, friends and you should be stopped in your tracks to see such beauty. Exist in your story.

Love and light,

Taylor