Meet Alisha Bangham

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha Bangham.

Alisha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Photography was not a direct route for me, or even on my radar for many years. My hairdressing career was consuming, busy, and fulfilling. I had a Canon point and shoot that I took with me everywhere, but that was just for fun. I went through a very sad divorce, and during that time the housing market crashed and we lost our house. It was an incredibly difficult time. I would go on these really brutal runs in the woods and eventually would bring my camera. This is when photography became an outlet for me. It was a way for me to communicate that I had not experienced before. This somehow led to getting work and building up my equipment and portfolio. Then I got remarried and moved to London. I made it my job to explore every gallery, museum and exhibition related to photography. This was really the first time I was exposed to the world of photography. On one hand, it was exhilarating, and the other was discouraging because my photography was not where I wanted it to be. I was working as a stylist in Brixton but kept pursuing photography. I was volunteering at a hospice and began taking photos for them and became part of a project about the impact of hospice volunteering in the UK. This was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had. Not only was I meeting incredible people who I still find inspiring, it was a catalyst for portrait making. I’m so proud of that experience. It ended with a gallery exhibition at the OXO Galley in South Bank, London.

Things were going so well in London, then we moved to Colorado. It felt like I was starting over yet again. I found the prairie landscapes here fascinating. There is a contrast of protected beautiful land, fracking, and development.

My portrait work has changed quite a bit as well. I’m in a place where I feel free to create what I want.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest struggles along the way has been depression. This is something that I’m only just opening up about recently. I always had this idea that if I change everything, then that would fix everything. If I just live somewhere with sunshine, I’ll be happy. If I just lose 10 lbs, I’ll be happy. If I run these races, I’ll be happy. If I move, I’ll be happy. I thought that people would see me as weak or unstable if I admitted my struggles. I really thought that I could fix myself.

Two years ago, my cousin, who is the same age as me, hung himself. This is the second suicide in my family. This happened when I was at a very point but became a wakeup call for me to seek treatment and accept that this is part of who I am. It’s only now that I can see so clearly that this had been an issue from a young age. For the first time in my life, I feel free from the burden of my thoughts.

Tell us about your work – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Most of the work that I’ve sold in print are landscapes. I’ve had a lot of portrait work in Colorado, but I’ve become very selective of those projects. I think that spending over 20 years in the hair industry has given me the ability to communicate well and has given me a strong sense of what works visually.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I recently attended a portrait workshop in Santa Fe, NM, and it REALLY pushed my boundaries. It was the first time I’d had my work critiqued and reviewed. It was nerve wracking but definitely paid off. Somewhere in the week I learned to trust my gut, and that is the key. It definitely pushed me to a place that I’m proud to be in, but it certainly was hard to get there.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 720-226-4880
• Email: alishabangham@gmail.com
• Instagram: @Alishabangham

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.