Essence is a side project of Hadley Photography developed by Taryn and Kendra Wobbema.

As lovers of culture, we have stepped out of Hadley Photography’s original purpose to capture the diverse identities of people and places surrounding us. Taryn is a writer. Kendra is a photographer.

To begin, we were drawn to our home state: North Dakota. More specifically, our curiosity drew us to the small towns that pepper the state. We want to discover what and who makes them thrive. This is the project for the summer of 2010. By the end, the photos and stories will be compiled and published.

Culture is everywhere and it is different everywhere so after the first volume of Essence is completed, we hope to continue the project by looking for the unique opportunities in Fargo – North Dakota’s largest city – and engaging with the growing refugee population placed in the state.

But really, Essence is more than a project. It is an attempt to highlight the fact that every person has a story and it is different from his or her neighbor’s. And that’s the beauty of it all.

Kendra, 25, founded Hadley Photography in Fargo, ND nearly two years ago. Kendra has a big heart for the diversity of the human experience. She graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2006 with a degree in international studies. She spent a short time in North Africa and Russia and has lived on her own in Los Angeles and Chicago. Since moving back to Fargo, she has helped new refugee families acclimate to their new home.  She is also Mom to an energetic 2-year-old.

Taryn, 20, is a junior studying journalism and sociology at the University of Minnesota. Nine months out of the year, she lives in Minneapolis and works at The Minnesota Daily. She has wanted to be a writer ever since she can remember. She has no idea where it will take her, but that’s why she’s so excited.