Daily Inspiration: Meet Audrey Walker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Walker

Hi Audrey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I was a young girl, my mother, Kelly Walker, would take me with her on her photography sessions for her business, Portraits by Kelly. My parents gifted me a Fujifilm camera when I was 8 years old, which I proudly carried with me during my mother’s sessions. I’d take pictures alongside her and after the session she’d review my work. My mom gifted me my love for photography and taught me the majority of what I know about it. Today, she is still one of my greatest supporters and cheerleaders.

My fujifilm camera gave me the ability to capture the world through 8 year old Audrey’s eyes. Thanks to my parents, I still have those photos today. My camera was filled with pictures of my family, sunsets, flowers, my dogs, and scenes from Lake Michigan and Nichols Lake, where my grandparents used to take us camping. Today, my camera is filled with many of the same things, albeit with the photos more in focus now.

Eventually, my tiny camera gave out and for years I stuck to photography using my phone. When I was 21, my parents gifted me a new camera, a Nikon D7000, after my love of photography had been undergoing a revival. In 2021, I had been going through health issues that led to my diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTs), a type of dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system). My whole life shifted from that point on. In 2023, my health took a steep decline and I lost everything overnight due to an onset of a more severe health issue accompanying POTs, that caused me to become even more disabled. In retrospect, the decline was evident and documented in the photos I had been taking. In summer 2021, severe bruises began appearing on my legs. As the months passed, each photo of me showed continued weight loss. I couldn’t see it then. The night of the first health episode that started the steep decline, I went outside and sat on the sidewalk of my apartment, watching the sunset over the field in my backyard. I found a slug and watched as he crawled onto my barefooted heel. That was the last photo I took before the worst year of my life began.

In the coming year, as I continued to worsen and as my friends and family took care of me, it was these things that kept me going: my art, photography, music, the art of others, determination, and my loved ones. I lived on for the moments in which I felt slivers of hope; the sunsets out my bedroom window, hearing the laughter and feeling the love of the friends who took care of me and accepted me as I was (when they had met me at my lowest point in life and still saw me for who I was and not just as a sick person), and looking back on the photos and videos from my life before that point. Those photos gave me hope, and sometimes despair, but deep down it was mainly hope. Hope that eventually, somehow, however far-fetched it felt, I would feel alive again; that I would take pictures of my favorite sunsets, my favorite people, new loves, new memories, new videos of my friends laughing, new anything, really.

I look back on the photos from that year with mixed emotions. I documented the good and the bad; the hospital visits, the moments of defeat, the fear I was feeling, but also the bonfires with all my friends, the moments with my late grandmother, the garden I built and planted when I started recovering (and subsequent photos of every new flower bloom), the paintings I made, the music I played, and even the days spent stuck in bed.

In April 2024, after a hellish year of being a medical mystery, my specialist found a medicine that changed my life. I gained back functioning we thought was long gone. Life started looking up. Over the coming months, I regained strength, independence, and hope. My camera roll from that time is filled with milestones of recovery: a thumbs up selfie from my shortest specialist doctor visit since getting sick, my first paycheck after a year and a half, getting to hold my close friend’s new baby boy, playing a local open mic night, seeing the Northern Lights for the first time, and over time, photos from sessions I was able to take on. I look back on those photos when I feel lost or defeated. At this point in my recovery journey, I’m slowly returning to “normal life”.

Today, after building my portfolio since April, I am just getting started in photography as a business. I truly am elated when I get to capture moments of peoples’ lives that they can hold onto for hope and appreciation. This life should be documented. I grew up watching my mother bring people joy through her photography and now I am endeavoring to do the same for a new generation of people. I specialize in portrait photography, and am now branching out into theatre photography, boudoir, and events. I am so excited to see where this journey takes me in the future. This year alone has been an exciting time for me professionally. In addition to family, portraits, and couples sessions, I was excited to be able to join on as the photographer for Central Park Players in Grand Haven, MI for their production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. In December, I participated in a holiday market event at The Corner, in Muskegon, MI.

I am excited to hopefully partner with more people and organizations in the community in the future.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My struggles with health have been the biggest obstacle for me so far, as I previously mentioned. I think, also, I struggled with building confidence in my skillset. I think at some point or another, all of us struggle with Imposter Syndrome to a degree, as well. Now, I am proud to say that I am very confident in my skillset and proud of the work I produce. Mentors have been a huge part of that success for me as well, as well as my mom and dad, who have been instrumental in helping me start my business and other creative/professional endeavors during my recovery period.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In addition to photography, I also enjoy participating in community theatre and the local music scene. Last year, I was cast as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Muskegon Civic Theatre, an organization with whom I have done several shows over the last decade. In past years, I have developed a love for painting as well, specializing in portraits and naturescapes. I’ve had two paintings on display over the last few years at All Art Works gallery in Grand Rapids, MI. Though not currently on display, my previous works can be found on their website under my artist name. I’ve been working to release my own original music, as well. I have been writing songs since I was a teenager, and lately have been playing open mics and recording my music.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Muskegon has a lively theatre and music scene to offer. Since middle school, I have enjoyed being a part of that community. I love living near the beach. I think there are many people actively working to improve Muskegon and build more community amongst our residents. I’m happy to be a part of that growth through my involvement in photography, art, music, and more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://audreywalker.smugmug.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photography.by.audreyw/profilecard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/5TmJwcj7WMSEXi2J/
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/LpuBSB23F3Q2zqHk7
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@photography.by.aw