Sweet Petal Photos
The person behind the lens: Sweetielol2
There is a great big world out there waiting to be explored. I always look forward to the adventure that awaits me. I believe that you can find beauty in anything that surrounds you. It’s what makes our world so amazing.
I seek to explore it through the lens of my camera. It's an artistic privilege to share my photos. I'm able to bring these images to life and capture nature’s beauty at its finest. A photo to me is powerful because for just a moment I can freeze time, and everyone can savor the memories the photograph evokes for years to come.
I have spent many years falling in love with photography, it is an art, a self-expression, and can be your very own form of therapy. There are no two photographers whose work is the same. We all stand apart because we see things differently. In a sense a photo is a looking glass into the soul of not only the subject but also of the photographer.
My love for flowers and roses stems from nature and being in awe of its raw beauty. There is a peace and serenity that is only found when you are in nature. Whether it be hiking a trail in the woods or mountains, enjoying the vastness of our oceans, spying on wildlife, or simply watching the sun rise or set you can find beauty all around you. I find beauty in my surroundings no matter where I find myself.
I have embraced the challenge through my lens to stop things in motion for a split second such as in water sports, animals in nature, and people going about their day. When I can finally line up that great shot it seems to always put a smile on my face.
I truly am a woman that has lived my life by the principle of Stop & Smell the Sweet Roses.
I leave you with sayings that have become a part of my life and photography. Live in the moment and appreciate the little things. Life is short so we must live it to the fullest with the people that we love, surrounded by what brings us joy. Kindness and a smile are never a bad idea. You are only ever one conversation away from a learning experience. If you never ask the answer will always be no. If you never try, you'll never know if you could have done it. If you get knocked down, get back up, no matter how many times it takes. If all else fails, tomorrow is a new day to start over.
Contact Me
April L Hoce
Sweetielol2
Ph: (772) 361-3502
The
Face Behind The Lens
How Roses Changed My Life
I try to always stop and smell the sweet roses! Life is short, so enjoy the little things in life.
I am a woman that has gone through many trials and losses in life. Those losses and trying times ended up shaping the person I am today. Most people, maybe not all, think of holidays, special events, or of family when they think of roses. For me that wasn't always the case. I used to associate roses with deception or guilt. I had only ever received roses when somebody was trying to make amends. So, the journey began to change my thinking and feelings in regard to roses.
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Let me first say that I hold no anger or hostility towards those that have previously wronged me in some way. I forgive and move forward in life. I try to use the lessons in my life as steppingstones to propel myself forward to grow and learn along the way. We only have a short time on this earth to try and blossom into the best version of ourselves.
The journey to loving roses began with first loving myself. I was not a person that had much of a problem with who I was. I just wasn't very good to myself. I have always had the heart to put others before myself. What I learned very much later in my life is that you can only give of yourself so much before you begin to feel empty. If you are empty the quality of yourself that you give to others will not be your best effort.
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I was such a people pleaser that my identity was wrapped up in others. I no longer valued my own opinions, voice, desires, wants, or even needs. I just settled for existing and going through the motions of life. Because my identity was so wrapped up in pleasing others, I looked to them to fulfill me. Let me tell you this led to huge disappointments in my life. People are not mind readers; they have their own lives to live. So, making sure they are giving back to you what you need doesn't end well.
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I had to learn that it was okay not to always agree with everyone all the time, not to always put what I wanted back on the shelf, or that my time had value. That I wasn't the doormat I allowed myself to become for many years. It was not an easy journey to put myself on the list of priorities in my life. That I have invaluable worth. That I am enough on my own merit to stop standing behind other people's ideas of who I was supposed to be. That I could still be a good mother, daughter, partner, friend, and woman if I put myself first. You cannot love others to the full extent of your capacity if you do not first love who you are. It is okay to be exactly who I am. It is also okay if people don't want to take the time to know who that is.
I learned new skills, new hobbies, new likes, and dislikes. I learned I could grow a garden. I learned that I could grow roses in the depths of hell, better known as the Florida heat, and have them survive. Trust me it's not an easy task and I lost many rose bushes along the way. I learned I truly love photography. I love photography on my own terms. I take photos of what I am inspired to take, not what someone thinks I should be shooting. I learned that I truly feel most alive in nature and amongst positive people. Truly stopping to look at the small details that surround me. I now have a better appreciation for people, places, wildlife, and the history that surrounds me in all things.
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Roses changed my life because I now grow them for myself instead of hoping that I'll receive them from someone. I now look at my roses in appreciation because I know the struggle it takes them to grow, much like the struggle it has taken me to grow as a person. My roses are beautiful just the way they are, much like the person I have grown to become. There is strength in struggle, which you rise out of, and out of hardship blossoms raw beauty.
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I share my garden and my journey of photography with you in hopes that you too can find the beauty that surrounds you. That you too can grow through this journey of life that we all share. Find what brings you joy, never forget to dream, and may you always find something or someone that brings you at least one smile every day.
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Thank You,
April
