From September to October 2025, I spent a week volunteering my photography skills with First Descents—an organization I keep coming back to, again and again. This was my third time joining one of their programs, and every time feels just as meaningful as the first.
First Descents creates life-changing experiences for young adults diagnosed with cancer and multiple sclerosis, bringing them together through adventure. And for me, their surfing programs are something truly special. There’s something about the ocean—the energy, the unpredictability, the freedom—that transforms people in the most beautiful way.
Being there with my camera, documenting these moments, never feels like work. It feels like witnessing something real. You see people arrive uncertain, sometimes reserved… and within days, they’re laughing, cheering each other on, riding waves, and stepping into a version of themselves that feels stronger, lighter, and more alive.
Volunteering in Santa Cruz, California with First Descents.
This experience reminded me why I love photography in the first place. Not the perfectly styled shoots, not the controlled environments—but the raw, unfiltered moments that you can’t recreate. The kind that just happen, and you’re lucky enough to be there to capture them.
At the same time, this trip came with its own challenges. During the program, I experienced an unexpected loss of my drone—something that turned into a long and frustrating process to replace. It was one of those moments that tested my patience and reminded me how unpredictable this work can be.
If you’re curious about what happened and everything that followed, I shared the full story in a separate blog post.
But even with that setback, it didn’t take anything away from what this experience meant to me.
Every time I get the chance to work with First Descents, I take it. Without hesitation. Because what they create—and what I get to witness through my lens—is something truly rare.
And I already know I’ll be back again.
