Commitments and obsessions

I was prepping for a call with my mastermind crew last week by doing some research on some famous photographers. Names like Ansel Adams, Anne Geddes, Henri Cartier-Bresson….I did not go to art school and really do not have much context at all, so it was compelling to situate myself into that study for bit.

I was looking for threads of how their lives influenced their work, and I think that’s the stuff of autobiographies more than wikapedia pages. But one thing that kept poking out was the influence of home on their future work.

Richard Avadon’s mother was a fashion designer and his father was an immegrant who climbed into success as a retail dress shop owner on Fifth Avenue.

Annie Lebowitz attributes falling in love with art to her mother's engagement with dance, music, and painting.

Sally Mann was brought up on a farm by hippie parents who didn’t care about kids running around the yard naked, which was a totally normal thing to do with zero shame or judgement. Her famous portraits of unclothed children in Immediate Family received so much criticism for sexualizing youth, but to her, it wasn't like that. She said in an interview about the collection (which her children had full autonomy over in publication and were openly proud of) — “I was just a mother photographing her children as they were growing up.”

Turns out that parents and artists have always carried their stories into what they do. Why do we pretend that it doesn't matter? Stories always matter.

While folding dough and chopping vegetables for dinner last night, the kids hovered around the counter and floor and we somehow tumbled into a chat about all of Gavin’s various seasons of obsession.

“Remember the time Gavin was obsessed with Pete the Cat stories?”

“Remember that season that Gavin was obsessed with the song No Roots by Alice Merton and played on the google home speaker on repeat for weeks?

“Remember how Gavin used to toss that beanie baby walrus into Aaron’s bouncer all the time when he was a baby?”

I love how kids lock in on things they're pulled towards. They can be fully invested in reading same book 100x in a row or are completely un-phased by the same breakfast for 3 months straight.

It's easy to let our obsessions go in favor of choice, but isn’t in kindof a power-move to say, no… I like this and I’m going to keep liking it till I stop liking it as much and start liking something else. ?

There are commitments and then there are obsessions.

Our commitments make us trustworthy. Obsessions make us unique.

A lot of photographers, (insert other creative fields if you wish - writers, designers, artists…) grow a career doing what they love by taking a piece of what they love and adding many more pieces of what other people tell them to love.

Sometimes what we love isn’t popular and that makes it less appealing and more scary for those who need their jobs to make money.

But the more I study these famous photographers, the more I see that their super power was not giving a shit.

They developed a commitment to their obsessions.

They committed to the untested and unasked-for and unheard-of.

Sometimes that ends up in a big heap of nothing.

But sometimes it works.

It seems like it would be a lot more fun, at least.

And sue me for believing that if you don’t enjoy the ways you succeed then it’s not really success at all.

// new + noteworthy //

SOMETHING TO READ // *My source on Sally Mann's career which was fascinating to read this week.

A SHOUTOUT // Thanks to Rachel Larson Weaver for getting me thinking about obsessions.

SOMETHING NEW // My upcoming outdoor school photography course got a landing page upgrade. For the photographers in the room who are curious about adding this offer as both a revenue stream and a growth strategy (and to do better for kids and families who are FINALLY done with Lifetouch for a multitude of reasons) – you can check it out and add yourself to the waitlist here.

SOMETHING TO RESONATE WITH // Ashlee Gadd bringing poetry to the context that feels slippery and impossible about parenting in 2026.

THINGS I SAVED THIS WEEK //

Matt always wanted to watch Olympic curling. I was more entertained by this.

The best answer to a bad question ever ever ever.

This helpful post from a long-time client about how to show up for someone who has lost a child. Even if you don't know someone experiencing this now, it is never wasted to become more empathetic, or to learn how to be a supportive friend and neighbor when someone needs you.

// spring sessions //

There is hope for warmer days, Charlottesville! Spring is around the corner and between the Photo Fuel Retreat, personal trips, and school events for my kids, weekend spots are limited. If you are curious about working together in the spring, please reach out asap!

If the curiosity needs a little exploring before you reach out, click through to these blog posts with some insight to how wonderful a spring session can be!

Reasons to love spring family photos

Family photos in May at UVA

What to wear for family photos besides dresses

Subscribe to get weekly letters here.

CREATIVITY | FAMILY | SIMPLE JOYS

On instagram @leahoconnell.photo

Learn more about: Family sessions | Newborn Sessions | Education