What If Your Purpose Isn't Your Job?
NAPERVILLE - WHEATON - GLEN ELLYN - ELMHURST - GENEVA - ST. CHARLES - BARRINGTON - BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHER
Hello my friend!
This week felt like one of those weeks where life was full in all the best ways.
At the studio, I photographed headshots, spent a day with the wonderful team at Compass's Alice Chin Realty Group, and had the opportunity to do something a little different—a food branding shoot for Premola Granola. Yes, food photography! I don't share that side of my work very often, but it's something I genuinely enjoy. Delaney and I spent the day styling, arranging, moving bowls an inch to the left, and obsessing over every little detail. It's a surprising amount of work, but getting to snack on granola recipes that we created between shots certainly doesn't hurt. I can't wait to share the final images with you.
Outside of work, we celebrated my mom's birthday surrounded by family, worked in the garden, spent time with our grandsons, went to the Kane County Flea Market (where we found beautiful art deco doorknobs for the studio), hosted an intimate (15 people) wedding here at the studio, and managed to squeeze in two movie dates. Since moving to our Cozy Compound, we don't make it to the theater nearly as often as we used to, so it felt like a treat. We saw Pressure, a fascinating WWII film centered around the meteorologist whose forecast helped determine the timing of D-Day. As someone who doesn't typically gravitate toward war movies, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. We also saw Tuner, which was absolutely fantastic—and the fact that the lead actor looks remarkably like my son may or may not have added to my enjoyment.
This week also brings a fantastic opportunity with Eden Brothers Seeds & Bulbs over on the Our Cozy Compound Instagram account. Considering how many of my flowers, vegetables, and bulbs have come from Eden Brothers over the years, it feels like a perfect partnership.
And finally, I have some exciting news to share at the end of this newsletter—something I genuinely never expected and still can't quite believe. You'll have to read to the end for that one.
Soft Focus: The Thing Beneath the Thing
For most of my adult life, if someone asked me what my purpose was, I would have answered without hesitation.
Photography.
After all, I have spent more than three decades building a career around it. I've photographed thousands and thousands of people, traveled the world with my camera, built a business from the ground up, and have been fortunate enough to spend my life doing work that I genuinely love.
How lucky is that?
But the older I get, the more I wonder if our careers and our purpose are always the same thing.
I think sometimes they overlap. Sometimes our work becomes the vehicle that carries us toward our purpose. But the work itself isn't necessarily the destination.
Lately, I've been thinking about the difference.
Because if photography disappeared tomorrow, what would be left?
What is the thing beneath the thing?
The answer came to me in the form of a text message from a client.
After delivering her son's images, she wrote:
"Oh my goodness, Alicia. The pictures turned out amazing. You took a kid who honestly had no interest in being photographed and made him look like he belongs in front of the camera. You're an amazing photographer, but your greatest gift and skill may just be how good you make other people feel about themselves."
I have received awards.
I've had photographs published on magazine covers.
I've had artwork in hung galleries in Europe.
But that message stopped me in my tracks.
Because while I appreciate every compliment about my photography, that one wasn't really about photography at all.
It was about how someone felt.
And that, I think, is the thing beneath the thing.
The truth is, every single person who has ever stepped in front of my camera is beautiful.
Every one of them.
Not because they fit some impossible standard. Not because they know how to pose or what to wear or how to smile perfectly.
They're beautiful because they are uniquely themselves.
Sometimes that beauty is obvious to them.
Often it isn't.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone point out every flaw before we've even started. They apologize for their wrinkles. Their weight. Their smile. Their hair. The things they wish were different.
Meanwhile, I'm looking at them and seeing something entirely different.
I see kindness.
I see resilience.
I see humor.
I see tenderness.
All of the things that equal beauty.
I see the way they light up when they talk about their children or grandchildren. I see the confidence they've earned through difficult seasons. I see the softness they don't realize they carry.
And somehow, all of those things find their way into a photograph.
The camera records what is in front of it.
But I believe it also captures something deeper.
The person.
Not just their face, but their essence.
Maybe that's why I've never felt like I was simply taking pictures.
I was helping people see themselves the way others already see them.
The way their spouse sees them.
The way their children see them.
The way their friends see them.
The way the universe created them.
Beautiful.
Worthy.
Enough.
I've come to believe that each of us owes it to ourselves to spend our lives exploring our purpose.
Not the title on our business card.
Not the role we play.
Not the job we do.
The deeper thing.
The thing that remains even if the circumstances change.
For some people, it's encouraging others.
For some, it's teaching.
For some, it's serving.
For some, it's creating.
For some, it's healing.
And for many of us, it takes a lifetime to fully understand.
Photography may be what I do.
But helping people recognize their beauty—inside and out—might be why I was given the opportunity to do it.
And if one day I'm remembered not for the photographs I created, but because I made someone feel seen, valued, beautiful, or worthy...
I think that would be enough.
More than enough.
That would mean I found the thing beneath the thing.
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
Inspiring Follow: @Tales_of_olivers_cottage
If you love cottage gardens, charming interiors, and homes that feel as though they've stepped straight out of a storybook, then you need to follow @tales_of_olivers_cottage.
Danielle shares the ongoing renovation of her 300-year-old English cottage, along with breathtaking garden transformations, thoughtful DIY projects, and glimpses of slow countryside living. Her feed is filled with climbing roses, winding garden paths, cozy interiors, and the kind of beauty that makes you want to put down your phone and spend the afternoon in the garden.
What I love most is that her spaces feel lived in and loved—not overly perfect, but intentionally beautiful. It's the kind of account that inspires you to create a home and garden that tell your own story.
And if you need one more reason to follow along, her gardens are so extraordinary that they have even been photographed by the photographer for David Austin Roses—which, for a rose lover like me, feels like the highest compliment imaginable.
If you're looking for a little cottage magic in your feed, @tales_of_olivers_cottage is one of my favorite follows right now.
What I’m Loving: Spruce Weed Killer (with Natural Ingredients)
Before anyone comes after me for featuring a weed killer in this newsletter... hear me out.
If you've followed along for any length of time, you know I spend a ridiculous amount of time in my gardens. And with over an acre to maintain, weeding is practically a part-time job around here.
For years, I've stubbornly pulled weeds by hand, refusing to use anything that didn't feel safe around my family, pets, pollinators, and the wildlife that call our property home. So when I heard about Spruce Weed & Grass Killer, I was intrigued but skeptical.
After trying it for the first time last week, I'm officially impressed.
Spruce uses a formula powered by essential oils that works by dehydrating weeds rather than relying on traditional herbicides. It's designed for use around people, pets, and bees when used as directed, which was one of the biggest reasons I was willing to give it a try.
The results were honestly shocking. All of the stubborn weeds I've been battling since we moved in started wilting within the first hour. By the next day, they were completely gone. Even better, I haven't seen signs of them returning.
And can we talk about the smell? Instead of the harsh chemical odor I expected, it actually smells pleasant thanks to the essential oils. I can't scientifically confirm this, but I swear the scent seemed to keep the mosquitoes away for at least a day.
I use it around mulch beds, paver stones, and other areas where hand-pulling every weed simply isn't realistic. The battery-operated spray wand makes it incredibly easy to use, and it's saved me hours of labor already.
Do I still pull weeds by hand? Absolutely.
Will I continue using Spruce for those impossible-to-manage areas? Also absolutely.
Anything that helps me spend less time fighting weeds and more time enjoying the garden feels like a win in my book.
Local-ish: Kane County Flea Market
As much as I dream of wandering through a French brocante in Provence, hunting for timeworn treasures among centuries-old linens, pottery, and antique furniture, sometimes a local adventure has to suffice.
Enter the Kane County Flea Market.
No, it's not a French brocante. But until I find myself back in France, it's one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend morning.
Held monthly in St. Charles, the Kane County Flea Market has been delighting treasure hunters, collectors, decorators, and curious wanderers for nearly 60 years. With up to 400 vendors spread throughout the grounds, you never quite know what you'll discover around the next corner.
One booth might be overflowing with vintage garden décor, while the next offers antique furniture, old books, architectural salvage, vinyl records, sports memorabilia, handmade goods, or the perfect piece of "junque" you didn't know you needed until you saw it.
That's really the magic of Kane.
You may arrive searching for something specific, but you'll almost certainly leave with something completely unexpected.
I love that every visit feels a little like a treasure hunt. There is something deeply satisfying about finding an old object with a story, imagining where it came from, and giving it a new life in your home or garden.
If you're someone who loves antiques, decorating, vintage finds, or simply spending a morning wandering and discovering, this is well worth the trip.
And who knows? Until we're strolling through the markets of Provence together, this might just be the next best thing.
2026 Show Dates:
Saturday 11am-4pm & Sunday 7am-3pm
March (Feb 28th & Mar 1st)
April 11th & 12th (Due to Easter)
May 2nd & 3rd
June 6th & 7th
July 4th & 5th
August 1st & 2nd
September 5th & 6th
October 3rd & 4th
November (Oct 31st & Nov 1st)
*No December Flea Market*
525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles
Recipe of the Week: Marinated White Bean Steak Salad
Since so many of you enjoyed the recipes I've been sharing lately, I thought I'd keep them coming.
This week, Dan and I tried a Marinated White Bean Steak Salad from @foodiefromvt , and let's just say it earned a permanent spot in our recipe collection.
It was everything I love in a summer meal—hearty enough to feel like dinner, healthy enough to feel good about eating it, and packed with flavor in every bite.
Of course, I made a few adjustments. Since Dan isn't a fan of chickpeas, I swapped them out and doubled the cannellini beans instead. I also added some blanched asparagus from the garden because when your garden is producing, you find every excuse to work those vegetables into dinner.
The result? Absolutely delicious.
The marinated beans, tender steak, fresh vegetables, Chimichurri, and creamy bleu cheese created the perfect combination of flavors and textures. (Let's be honest—Dan and I have never met a recipe with bleu cheese that we didn't like.)
In fact, this is one of those rare recipes that feels equally at home as a weeknight dinner or on a buffet table at a summer gathering. If I'm ever asked to bring a salad to a dinner party, potluck, or backyard barbecue, this will be the one.
It's the kind of recipe that disappears quickly and leaves everyone asking for the recipe—which is always the best kind.
Marinated White Bean Steak Salad
Serves 4
This hearty salad is packed with protein, healthy fats, and bold flavors. I swapped the chickpeas for an extra can of cannellini beans and added blanched asparagus from the garden—and it was absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
For the Salad
16 oz steak of choice
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or substitute a second can of cannellini beans)
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
½ red onion, thinly sliced
16 oz roasted red peppers, sliced (jarred or homemade)
1–2 avocados, ripe but still firm, diced or sliced
5 oz bleu cheese, crumbled
For the Marinade
⅓ cup olive oil
Juice of ½ lemon
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup chopped cilantro
½ teaspoon salt
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Make the marinade.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, parsley, cilantro, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.Marinate the beans and vegetables.
In a medium bowl, combine the chickpeas, cannellini beans, red onion, and roasted red peppers. Pour half of the marinade over the mixture and toss well. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.Cook the steak.
Bring the steak to room temperature and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the steak for 3–4 minutes per side, or until it reaches your preferred doneness. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing into strips or bite-sized pieces.Assemble the salad.
In a large serving bowl, combine the marinated bean mixture, sliced steak, avocado, and bleu cheese. Drizzle with the remaining marinade and gently toss to combine.Serve.
Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 days. If preparing ahead, add the avocado just before serving.
Recipe adapted from @foodiefromvt.
Studio Happenings
I have a little exciting news to share this week.
One of my fine art pieces, Red Dress: A Tale of Melancholy, was selected for the 40th Chelsea International Fine Art Competition and will be exhibited at the Agora Gallery in Manhattan, New York, alongside the work of 29 other artists from around the world.
To say I was surprised would be an understatement.
As photographers, we're constantly creating for others—capturing milestones, preserving memories, and telling stories. My fine art work gives me an opportunity to explore creativity in a different way, which makes this recognition especially meaningful.
When I received the notification, I read it twice just to make sure I wasn't imagining it.
I feel incredibly honored to have my work selected, and equally grateful for all of the experiences behind the camera over the last 30+ years that have shaped the artist I am today.
So it appears there may be a trip to New York in my very near future—and I couldn't be more excited.
I'll be sure to share photos from the exhibition when the time comes!
with love and light,
Alicia Staley Johnson
of Alicia’s Photography
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