Trees Have Roots. We Have Legs.

It’s a nice thought — settling in, putting down roots, finding your “forever spot.” But here’s the deal: trees are built to stay still. We aren’t.

We’ve got legs for a reason. Movement. Growth. Mobility.
We’re not meant to just exist — we’re meant to evolve — Grow, mature, develop, and progress.

That’s been a north star for me, professionally and creatively. I never wanted to be the kind of person who topped out early and coasted for the rest of the ride. I wanted to keep climbing. Keep growing. Keep pushing that ceiling higher. I don’t mean you must physically uproot your family from your community. No — it’s about the internal desire for change and progression.

So I went after my education like it owed me money.

It started with learning how to learn — I dipped my toes into the water at Oklahoma City Community College, grabbed an associate’s degree, and realized I could do more. So I did more. I eventually earned a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University (side note: competency-based education? Game-changer). I even considered chasing a DBA from South College. It’d be great if WGU did explore a DBA program — Just sayin’, WGU! Still tempted, honestly. I like a good challenge.

But that same growth mindset doesn’t just stop at the professional world. It bleeds over into photography, too.

If I stayed the same photographer I was a year ago, what would be the point? If I only stuck to what I knew and never tried anything different — if I never explored a new lighting style, a new editing technique, or even shot a different kind of session — I’d flatline creatively. No one wants that. Especially not the people hiring you to see the world a little differently.

So here’s the challenge I keep giving myself — and maybe you need to hear it too:

Stay hungry. Stay humble. Stay moving.

Want to improve your photography? Stay in your lane and explore the exits. Master your niche, then try something new. Say yes to the weird stuff. Shoot the session you’re not sure about. Test out that lens that scares you. Use light in a way that breaks your brain for a minute. Stay true to yourself, but grow thyself!

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about progressing.
And sometimes growth isn’t linear — it’s messy. It’s side quests and dead ends and little sparks that eventually catch fire.

But the alternative? Staying the same?
Nah. That’s not it.

So don’t be a tree. Be a person. Grow roots when you need to — in your values, in your family, in your purpose — but remember you’ve got legs for a reason.

Use ’em.