It was late and I was a few steps away from curling up with sweat pants and a good book in my little apartment in Florence, Italy, when suddenly a little voice in my heart told me to take out my camera and turn down an alleyway. Dark alleys at night have never been my idea of a great time, but I just couldn't shake it. 
A little peeved, I put down my gelato, pulled my camera out of my backpack with frozen fingers and retraced my steps in the dark.

I turned down the alley just as a woman emerged from the shadows at the opposite end.  With eyes locked on the cobblestones, brows furrowed and fists clenched- she was about seventy years old and walked like every step demanded concentrated effort.

 Nervously, I waved.
 We were the only ones on the street. 
"Ciao! Tu Bella!" I called out.  "May I take your photo?"

Surprised, the woman looked up then checked over her shoulder.  
"Me?" She asked softly, finger pointing to her chest.  
"Me? Bella?" 
Smiling, I nodded. "Si!"
 
She paused, looked down for a moment, then shaking her head, looked up with eyes full of tears.
Stopping a few feet away, she pulled her shoulders back and smiled, just long enough for me to capture
two shaky frames.  She was radiant.
"Grazie." I breathed.

She nodded and continued past me, whispering,
 "Me..Bella." to herself on the way.

I stood there- in the dark- tearing up as that same little voice in my heart whispered over and over again,
“you were made for this.”  

xoxo, Kristine

When I got back to the U.S., I started Kristine Clark Photography, as a way of creating moments like this one,*minus the dark alley.   An experience where you feel fully seen and wildly, truly beautiful.
One where your photographs reflect the magic you’ve always carried.