When Alex Thomas steps behind the lens to shoot his signature fashion and beauty photos, every minute is carefully planned. A visual storyteller, Thomas evokes a sense of authenticity and confidence. With camera in hand, the 45-year-old New Yorker feels right at home.
But it wasn’t always this way.
For Thomas, an epilepsy diagnosis when he was in fifth grade changed everything. As a 10-year-old, he couldn’t make sense of his seizures and what was happening with his body. “The gravity of it really wasn’t something I was understanding—I just knew there was something different about me,” he recalls.
Still, he didn’t let the condition slow him down throughout his school years. A photography internship after college was a turning point. After completing a degree in computer science, the internship allowed him formal training. Rather than a serious hobby, he realized that he could embrace photography as a full-fledged profession—and as an outlet for living with his condition. “Photography gave me a release and a way to use my creative abilities,” he says.
“I MAY HAVE THIS DISABILITY AND DISORDER, BUT I DON’T LET IT DEFINE ME.”
More than 20 years later, the determination has paid off. For Thomas, photography offers a sense of connection and allows him to celebrate the hard work that was needed along the way. He has also created a supportive community of fellow “epilepsy warriors” while thriving in his career. “I think it gives me a different avenue and a different outlook on life,” he says. “I may have this disability and disorder, but I don’t let it define me.”
Most importantly, Thomas has his faith. “God has not only guided me with my camera, but he has protected me the whole time,” he says. “I survived a car wreck during a seizure and almost got run over at the airport while having an episode. God kept me here.”
Throughout his career, he’s had to plan for some of his photography jobs well ahead of time, including taking portraits or more formal headshots in studio settings with bright lights. For Thomas there’s also the potential for strobe lights to trigger a seizure and he’s careful about working with an assistant who will keep him safe in that scenario. “I always try to have someone with me who does know about my condition,” he says.
He’s also had to be more thoughtful when pacing his work schedule. Constant stress management is key. “I take a lot more time in my process versus trying to rush it—I’d rather try to think things through properly, which allows me to really not get stressed out,” he says. Thomas has not experienced a seizure in nearly three years, thanks to medication, lifestyle changes, and God. “He has me in the palm of his hands,” he says.
These days, he’s grateful for his path and has taken a more active role in the epilepsy community. And he finds others are more willing to share their experiences too. “It has given me an outlet to meet other individuals and get to know their stories and really have a sense of belonging,” he says. “We can rally around and support each other.”