“I think the advice I would give my younger self would be: You belong here. You belong anywhere.”
At the end of 2022, I had the immense privilege to photograph product leader Shelly Kalish. As a second-generation American born to Israeli parents, Shelly shared that she never felt like she belonged in either place growing up.
“This lesson is something that’s hit me a few times in my life, and something I need to be reminded of sometimes in different aspects of my life. At work, imposter syndrome can kick in – should I even be here? After having my first child living in NYC, I now feel like a true New Yorker building a family in the city. But before, I wasn’t sure I belonged.”
“After undergrad in Israel, I got into the tech world doing customer success. I realized, however, I wanted to do more—I wanted to take action and actually change the experience for the customer. This led me into product management, where I’ve worked for over 10 years.”
“I love nurturing teams and talent. It’s important that, after 6 years of leading teams, I’m not just a product leader, I’m a people leader. I’m passionate about connecting with others and making things more efficient.”
Thanks, Shelly, for reminding us that we belong anywhere and everywhere we want to be.
About Alissa
Alissa Randall is a portrait photographer based in New Jersey and New York City, known for creating images that feel both elevated and deeply personal. While professional headshots remain a cornerstone of her work, her photography has grown to include personal branding, women’s empowerment, family connection sessions, and expressive portraits of dogs and the people who love them.
Her approach blends editorial artistry with empathy and guidance, helping people feel comfortable enough to be fully seen in front of the camera. Whether photographing an executive, an entrepreneur, a family, or a beloved dog, Alissa creates photographs that reflect more than appearance. They reflect presence, personality, connection, and story.
Alissa photographs in NJ, NYC, and on location beyond the tri-state area. Explore more of her work on the homepage and discover stories behind the images on the blog.