Family has always been my highest priority. As my daughters became more independent and I began exploring a second career, I accepted a part-time position with a local photography studio. Initially, my responsibilities focused on file organization, record management, and archival projects.

In 1998, the studio was presented with an opportunity that would dramatically change the direction of the business. A bid was awarded for the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan, requiring an entirely new workflow. At the time, the studio was completely film-based, but this project demanded digital cameras, on-site printers, specialized software, and the ability to work outdoors during the winter months.

The equipment arrived on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day was spent unboxing equipment, installing software, and learning an entirely new process. The very next day—Black Friday—three of us were standing outside at the Virginia Governor’s Mansion photographing Santa, local children, and the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan. That first season took us to several cities and marked the beginning of my transition into event photography.

In 2007, a strategic marketing decision was made to separate the studio’s high-end portrait business from the growing event photography division that had emerged from the Coca-Cola project. A second company was formed as an all-women entrepreneurial venture: Fisk, Fisk-Taylor, and Fisk-Moore, Real Life Studios.

The portrait studio continued serving its traditional clientele, while the event photography operation was rebranded as Real Life Photography and Events. The company specialized in local events, private schools, youth sports, and high school senior photography. Over time, the business expanded significantly and developed a reputation for delivering professional photographic services throughout the community.

Like many businesses, COVID-19 brought new challenges and required another organizational restructuring. Rather than maintaining a traditional brick-and-mortar office, the decision was made to invest in mobility and efficiency. The office space was replaced with a 2015 Nissan NV Cargo Van, transforming the business into a fully mobile operation.

Today, Real Life Events continues to serve clients throughout the region. Our cameras, printers, computers, and event equipment travel with us from job to job, allowing us to bring professional photographic services directly to the communities and organizations we serve.