A Real Introduction
Today marks the day I finally gathered my thoughts, memories, and favorite photographs and brought them together in one place. For a long time, I told myself I wanted to step away from social media—or more honestly, step away from letting platforms that no longer serve a growing artist’s mind define my voice.
This space is different.
This is mine.
So, I guess I should start with an introduction.
My name is Chris Ivy-Martin, but I go by “Ivy.”
Photography started for me in a simple way. When my mom used to take me back to her hometown of Chicago, she’d hand me a small disposable film camera and send me out to explore. No editing. No filters. No second chances. Just about 25 shots and the responsibility to make them matter.
That’s where I learned my first lesson:
Moments are fragile. Pay attention.
I began taking photography seriously in 2017. Back then, most of my images were dark, underexposed, and honestly… pretty rough. I didn’t understand ISO, aperture, or shutter speed. I just knew I loved pressing the shutter and hoping for something meaningful to come back.
And somehow, over time, it did.
Fast forward to 2026. I’m balancing a full-time career that demands most of my energy, while squeezing passion into the spaces in between. Late nights. Early mornings. Quiet moments when the world slows down just enough for me to notice it.
I’m not naturally an emotional person. Life moves fast. We’re constantly scrolling, consuming, chasing the next hit of dopamine. It’s easy to become numb without realizing it.
But photography gives me permission to pause.
To breathe.
To notice.
To hold onto a moment that would’ve otherwise disappeared.
As an introvert working in an extroverted world, this is my outlet. My reset. My way of staying connected to myself when everything else feels loud.
This blog isn’t just a gallery of finished work. It’s a window into the process—the doubts, the lessons, the failures, the breakthroughs, and everything in between. It’s me learning out loud.
More than anything, I hope this becomes a space for conversation.
A place where ideas are shared.
Where perspectives are challenged.
Where curiosity is encouraged.
Where stories are exchanged.
If something here resonates with you, I want to hear about it.
If something makes you think differently, let’s talk about it.
If you see the world in a way I haven’t yet, teach me.
Because photography isn’t just about what I see.
It’s about what we discover together.
Welcome to the journey.
an extroverted job, this is my passion. This is my release.
My hope is to create a community of people who share similar interests—individuals who push boundaries, challenge perspectives, and help expand the way I see the world through my lens.