Focusing on a Fresh Start

Dear Loving Community,

I’m reaching out with a heartfelt request for your help. After having to sell my photography equipment during the pandemic to cover basic expenses, I’ve struggled to regain my creative outlet—and with it, my income—while also facing health challenges and housing instability. Photography is not just a job for me; it’s essential to my well-being, my sense of self, and my financial stability. Your support would mean everything to me, and no contribution is too small. Every little bit brings me one step closer to reclaiming what’s been lost.

The Longer Story:

Photography has always been my heart's work—the way I connect with the world and the way I find meaning in the everyday. But when the pandemic hit, everything changed. I had to stop working as a photographer, and by 2020, I was faced with the brutal reality of selling my equipment to survive. As restrictions started to lift in 2022, I hoped to get back to my passion, but the road to recovery has been far from easy.

The pandemic impacted me deeply, causing significant financial loss. But on top of that, it came with physical health issues like severe perimenopause and an autoimmune condition, which further strained my well-being. To add to the pressure, I’m currently in a living situation with my separated partner due to housing instability, which weighs on my mental health every day.

Though I’m incredibly grateful for access to medical care and therapy, one thing that I haven’t been able to regain is the creative outlet that has always been a source of peace and grounding for me. Photography isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifeline. Without it, I feel disconnected from myself.

That’s why I’m asking for your help today. I need a used camera, memory cards, and a camera bag to get back behind the lens. Your support will not only help me reclaim my creative voice but also enable me to earn a living in a way that truly feeds my soul.

I believe in the power of community, and I know that together, we can make this happen. If hands could cry from missing something, mine are dripping with longing to be behind the camera again.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering my request and for being a part of this journey with me.

With love and gratitude,

Zahra