Cass Fife-Havranek
My Path,
My Love of God? That's easy, my grandfather is a retired Methodist Minister and taught me that Jesus loved everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, or who you loved. I was taught as a child to love my neighbor and never judge. I don't care what you believe, my experiences with my God are no different than those with different understandings and faiths. Most faiths are based in the basic principle that if you aren't a greedy jerk to your fellow man you are doing the right thing. Basic respect and kindness are at the root of ALL human religions and yet somehow "religion" finds a way to do the exact opposite. I could go on all day about the error of what man has done to religion, but that is for another post.
My love of writing came from my love of reading, and my love of painting with light started in middle school with a cheap camera and a dozen rolls of film. Of course I didn’t know at the time that I wanted to be a photographer. I just knew I liked making people feel beautiful and wasting my parent’s money on film. (Hey! It was the 90s!)
Fast forward to a year after High School. I found myself waiting tables with no direction in life until I took a few meager photography classes at Metro, and that was the beginning of an incredible fourteen year journey. In the fall of 2003, just after my first child was born, my family and I picked up and moved to Denver, CO. That is where my photography career truly begins.
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That October I began working part-time as a seasonal photographer for Lifetouch out of a JCPenney studio location at the Aurora Mall. I was terrified, to say the very least, especially when my first 60 (yes SIXTY! In 10 open hours and only two camera rooms) appointment Saturday hit, but I survived and discovered a career I have true passion for.
Fast forward eight years and I had risen in the ranks from seasonal part-time help to studio manager, district photography coach, and district holiday photography trainer several years in a row. Unfortunately a deteriorating spine and deteriorating commercial photography industry forced me to pursue other paths.
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In April 2010 one such path lead me to Arnold Clark Studios. At the time AC was still one of Omaha's premier and longest operating senior portrait studios. I started my career there as their outdoor photographer and as assistant to Billy Clark. After six months of absorbing everything I could about posing and lighting, AC lost their primary second shooter. Bill Clark Sr. took me under his wing and taught me the finer points of headshots and studio lighting. I resumed my job as AC's second shooter for the next six months until an injury kept me from continuing my employment with the studio, due to its high pace and severe physical demands.
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I am most thankful for my time at AC because I learned firsthand the inner workings of a high end private portrait studio. The next few years unfortunately led me down some dark paths as I struggled with degenerative disk disease and the recovery of four back surgeries.
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In dealing with my health issues I was unable to work, became severely dependent on prescriptions, nearly died a few times, and in effect had to sell all of my private photography equipment and cameras when I ended up homeless with my family for a year. After a brief hiatus to take care of my health issues, have my third life changing child, and write the first book in a six book YA series (publishing pending) I have come back to my passion. With the help of my church choir and the amazing loving River City Mixed Chorus family I have been able to rise above my pain and create a life of singing, art, beauty, laughter, and service.
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After 14 years of watching my work float out the doors with someone else's name on it in the profit of big business or greed, I am thankful for the experiences, but the time has come for me to take control of my art. After 7 years of struggling with pain and prescription addiction I have found my drug is service to others. I've fought and I've stumbled, but my faith carried me and I found the strength to finally stand up and believe in myself. I found that the love I have in my heart and the world we live in are in desperate need of each other. However, I am not alone. My church community and activist communities are gearing up for a fight and with them I stand FIRMLY on the side of unconditional love for all humanity. Together we stand, crying for equality with #OneVoice.
