I had the honor of photographing Sarah Cohn. Sarah, thank you so much for the opportunity!
I asked Sarah to describe something that changed the trajectory of her life.
This is what she said:
While I have so many different points in my life that impacted my adult path, the one that stands out the most was moving around continually throughout my school years. My father was in the Air Force and every couple of years we had to transfer to a new location, from Virginia to Mississippi to Nevada to Hawaii to Texas and more. Each time we landed in a new region, I was always angry at my parents for uprooting my sister and I since we had to leave old friends and our way of living. After college at the University of Florida, I moved to New York City at the urging of a close friend. In my early working days in New York, I began to deeply appreciate that my parents had exposed my sister and I to so many unique cultures and ways of living. In retrospect, my experience moving around so much helped me to better relate to people and be adaptable and resilient when facing new opportunities and challenges.
The takeaway is: Even unappreciated or unexpected experiences may lead to something great.
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.