Black and white low-key self-portrait of Gilbert AZ photographer Andria May in a fedora, lit with dramatic chiaroscuro light.

My Hardest Client Yet: What the 52 Frames Weekly Photo Challenge Is Teaching Me

Gilbert Senior Photographer| Gilbert Family Photography| Photography Guides| Photography Education

October 14, 2026•2 min read

I've been a Gilbert portrait photographer since 2009.
This summer I signed up for homework.

At the encouragement of an excellent photographer I know, Rebecca Snyder, I joined an online community called 52 Frames.

The premise is simple: take one creative photo a week. You can use your phone or a camera. (I'm a photographer, so obviously I'm using my camera.) Each week there's a new theme, and I've been using it to try things I don't normally do.

The bumpy start

Getting started was a little bumpy. Okay, a lot bumpy. But now that I'm in the routine, it's so much fun.

Self-portrait of a woman with a surprised expression and windblown hair in the lower corner of a bright white background. — Caught by Surprise. Me in the corner, a little wind, bold lipstick, and a whole lot of white space.

Meet my hardest client: me

Several of my weeks, I've been the subject. Yes, I set up the lights, styled myself, put my camera on a tripod, and triggered it with my phone as the remote.

Let's just say I may be my hardest client.

But I've created some photos I'm really proud of, and I keep challenging myself.

Side by side self-portraits: a woman in a gold sequin dress in a golden hour field at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve, and the same woman lit by a narrow beam of blue light against a dark wall. — Serious Sparkle + Into the Blue. Same subject (me), totally different light. On the left, my heels were sinking into a field at golden hour. On the right, a single speedlight with barn doors shines through a blue bowl in a dark room.

Why this matters after almost 18 years

When you've been doing this as long as I have, you can drift into seasons where you're not creating amazing work. Not because you can't, but because you're not pushing yourself to slow down and be intentional.

Is every photo out of my camera amazing? Absolutely not.

But every week, I'm thinking of a concept and figuring out how I'll create the image I have in my head. Some weeks I have time to make something really gratifying. Some weeks are simpler. Either way, I'm showing up.

Three creative photos side by side: a gold Lego minifigure against glitter bokeh, a ukulele surrounded by music note shaped bokeh, and a close-up of a weathered wood carving in Vail, Colorado. — Out of my lane. A Lego shot on my iPhone, using the gold dress as glitter bokeh. Music notes I cut with my Cricut for a three-layer composite. A wood carving I spotted on a family trip to Vail. None of these are portraits, and that was the point.

What this means for your session

This is the same thing I do for my clients. When I plan, a family or senior session here in Gilbert, I ask you weird questions. Not to be nosy, but because I want to tell your story well.

52 Frames keeps that muscle strong. The lighting tricks, the composites, the "what if I tried this" moments all come back into your session.

Three portraits: two teen girls posing back to back under purple ring lights in Downtown Gilbert, Arizona, a boy looking at his reflection in a mirror under blue light, and a humorous 90s-style portrait of a teen girl holding a tabby cat with a giant floating cat head behind her. — Other people's turn. An impromptu night shoot in Downtown Gilbert, with the camera along, the girls willing, and us just going. A mirror, two lights, and a blue glow for a boy with a very serious expression. And my tribute to the wonderfully awkward '90s portrait, floating head included. The cat had to be in it.

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For my fellow photographers: try it

If you're in a creative rut, here's what's working for me:

Pick the concept first. Decide what you want to say before you grab the camera.
Be your own model. Tripod + phone remote = no excuses and zero scheduling.
Let some weeks be simple. Consistency beats perfection.
Shoot outside your niche. Landscapes, macro, toys. It all makes your main work better.

Black and white sunset over a pond framed by silhouetted trees and reeds at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, Arizona. — Where the Light Breaks. Homecoming kids were everywhere at the Riparian Preserve, so I walked away and shot the sky in monochrome instead.

Want to see every week, including the ones that didn't make this post? Follow along on my 52 Frames profile

Your Turn

What's the one thing you're working on this season? Send me a DM on Instagram at @imandriamay

XOXO ~ Andria

52 Frames weekly photo challenge creative self-portrait self-portrait photography tips photography creative rut East Valley portrait photographer

Andria Meixner

Andria Meixner is the owner and lead photographer at Andria May Photography, a boutique portrait studio based in Gilbert, Arizona. She specializes in creating full-service photography experiences for families, children, and high school seniors across the East Valley, helping clients transform meaningful moments into heirloom-quality artwork. As a mom of four and an artist at heart, Andria is passionate about showing families how worthy they are of being seen—and celebrated—on their walls, not just their screens.