On a quiet summer evening in Oshkosh, photographer Nathaniel Flauger set out on a spontaneous kayak trip—and left his camera behind. What followed was a surreal, storm-soaked journey through stillness, spirit, and unexpected beauty. This story captures the moment when presence became the picture, and a photographer let go to receive something deeper.

This blog shares the story behind my first newborn and family shoot, a session filled with gear issues, fading light, and unexpected reflection. What began as a moment of pride became a deeper conversation about experience, growth, and what it really means to be present behind the camera. Sometimes, the best lessons don’t come from perfect conditions, they come from how we adapt, reflect, and keep creating.

And that’s where the joke lands. Integrity Farms. A reference from South Park—Randy Marsh’s pot farm—but somehow it still hits home. In the show, it's satire. But beneath it, there's this desperate reach for authenticity in a world that’s gone hollow. That’s what I’m doing too—just with a camera instead of cannabis. Because that’s exactly what I’m doing. Cultivating integrity. Growing something real. Building a life that reflects who I am, without splitting myself to survive.

I didn’t leave work. I left servitude.
I didn’t quit. I claimed.

Now I walk the world as myself—no longer braced for survival, but grounded in purpose.
My photography is more than a job. It’s how I pray with my eyes open.”

"This mobile studio isn’t just gear in a trunk. It’s the result of every yes I whispered to myself when the world wasn’t looking."

"This journey has had its failures, uncertainty, and quiet victories. But every step brought me closer to my voice."