Alissa Whelan of Bright Life Photography is a "memory preservation specialist." Photographer for the LEAF and LAAFF festivals, she placed first Our State's 2009 Photography Competition and was awarded a grant in 2010 from The Asheville Area Arts Council. Clients include The Marketplace Restaurant, Acoustic Syndicate, and Larry Keel. Alissa loves dogs, mushrooms, and other objects of beauty and veneration.