From the time Caroline Brehman was a child, she always had an intuition that photography was her calling. It wasn’t until her first year in high school though, where she took a photography course, and was able to get a hands on experience with the equipment.
“The moment I got my hands on that camera, I fell in love, and couldn’t get enough of it,” said Brehman.
In the midst of the college process, Brehman was deciding which university would be the best fit for her. She was torn between attending art school for photography, or pursuing a liberal arts education, but ultimately decided to strive toward liberal arts, prompting her selection of Elon University. Upon entering a new school, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and unusual paths, Brehman was on the road to discover what she wanted to do, and who she wanted to be. At first, Brehman recognized her interests both in the human brain and communication, prompting her to declare a major in communication design, and a minor in psychology and digital art.
After a spontaneous decision to attend the National Press Photographers Association Meeting with Elon University’s student chapter, it suddenly all made sense for Brehman. She met with her now academic advisor, Randy Plland, and spent hours conversing about photography, more specifically photojournalism.
“It was through him that I realized, wait, maybe I can pursue photography as a career,” said Brehman.
Following the meeting, Brehman joined the Edge Magazine and The Pendulum, but realized The Pendulum was a better fit for her desired type of photography. The following summer, Brehman attended the Democratic National Convention, where she found herself snapping photos of every fascinating interaction she could lay her eyes on. That is when she came to the utmost conclusion that she must pursue photojournalism as a career.
“I do not want to become a photojournalist for the money, because frankly, there’s little money to be made in this career. It all comes down to my passion for the field, and belief in the power of photojournalism,” said Brehman.
The path Brehman wants to follow embraces one where she can make a difference in the world, and initiate change for those around her. After years of contemplating her interests and choice of career, she recognized her true passion of narrating the stories of others, discovering different cultures, and witnessing magical moments within daily life, all through the lens of a camera.
In an in-depth interview with Brehman, she left me with a moving quote from James Nachtwey, “I don’t think tragic situations are necessarily devoid of beauty.”
To learn more about Brehman and view her work, visit carolinebrehman.com.
Get a sneak peak at a variety of photos by Brehman: