Hey there! Thank you for taking the time to read about my GoFundMe.

My name is Jamie Olguin, and I’m a photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona. I’ve been building my craft for as long as I can remember—ever since I first picked up a Polaroid. In school, I was drawn to theater and performance, which eventually led me to earn my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts at Arizona State University. Even during those years, I never put the camera down. Since receiving my first camera in 2014, I’ve fallen in love with capturing moments that turn into lifetime memories, and I’ve found even deeper joy in the community I’ve built through both photography and performance.

Although I haven’t been performing in recent years, I’ve felt a strong longing to return to that part of myself. For a while, I felt torn between the two directions of photography and performance—until I realized they were never separate. They were always meant to merge.

At the beginning of this year, I was reminiscing with my little sister about our childhood. We could play mermaids for hours—collecting “magic stones” and escaping frightening fishermen. Our imaginations led the way, and movement came out naturally, unapologetically. A few months ago, while reflecting on that nostalgia and my struggle for direction, I felt a spark. The ideas, the memories, the grief, the worries, the sense of community—everything began to flow, like a river carving its path. Out of this, Birth of the Weeping River was born.

This project was created out of a need to break cycles. It respects the history of Indigenous culture and honors women from the late 1800s, when Anglo settlers took control of the Salt River. In doing so, they stripped away culture, tore families apart, and forced women into a male-driven world that disrespected every part of their being. It sounds all too familiar today—women being stripped of roles they have always carried, then told they are “unqualified.” The women of the O’odham and Piipaash Tribes were among the first to be targeted. The weight they carried to preserve culture and lineage will always sit heavy in my heart. And the thought of children taken from their mothers will always break it.

I’ve built a crew of femme and queer models and creatives to bring this vision to life, and I’ve been supported by women across Arizona—from Flagstaff to Payson to Tucson. More than anything, I believe this is a community piece, and I feel called to guide its storytelling through my history, experiences, and craft.

Taking on a project this intentional means I’ve also taken on the financial responsibility. But I’ve reached the point where I need help. The grant I applied for won’t come until October—if I receive it at all, since this is my first large-scale project.

Your support will make a tremendous difference. It will help bring Birth of the Weeping River to life, while also allowing me to stay afloat in my day-to-day as I build my career with Little Den Studio. Contributions will help cover equipment, costuming, travel, food, safety gear, and props. Any amount will fill not only my heart, but the hearts of everyone dedicating their time and energy to this work.

I am incredibly excited to begin shooting this coming weekend. I hope you feel called to join me in the creation of Birth of the Weeping River.

please visit my website for more info o. My work https://littledenstudio.mypixieset.com/