Under the vast Oklahoma sky, on a hot September day, Lillian Merritt was brought home to a creaky American foursquare. Storytelling was always encouraged by her family and because of this Lillian gravitated toward artistic expression from an early age.

This took the form of a consistent devotion to dance and the early development of a passion for writing. Creativity could be found everywhere and in everything she did, a story could be found. 

Yet her creative expression changed drastically when an annual dance studio photoshoot turned into a dramatic discovery. It was through an online workshop that Lillian first discovered Fine Art Photography, a completely new and intriguing style of creation that instantly grabbed her attention. The desire to chase after this kind of storytelling blossomed in her soul immediately. She had never been so sure of something in her life. 

Passion and curiosity paved the way to the development of her craft and in 2016, Lillian started Strength Of Atlantis. A company and brand that would soon become the actualization of her commitment to pursue photography and creation as her full time calling.

In November of 2018, Lillian was part of her very first exhibition and shortly after she signed on with the French art agency, Charlet Photographies. This led Lillian to the amazing and career-defining opportunity of showcasing six of her photographs during the Fotofever art fair held at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France. 

In January of 2020, months before the pandemic, Lillian made the decision to drop out of college and pursue photography full time. This decision has led to many incredible opportunities, including the exploration of artistic expression in multiple genres. The beginnings of her story alone could be the greatest foreshadowing to her creations exceeding more than just photography.

Her artistry is far more interdisciplinary than that and while her passion for photography continues to grow, she also has branched out in other mediums including video, writing, and dance. Yet the motivation remains the same. Lillian strives to create meaningful and emotional stories, whether that is captured through the creation of a singular image or through the movement of a dance performance. Story always shines through and touches the hearts of those who have the pleasure of experiencing it. 

This year holds the promises of constant growth and exploration into the artistic world as Lillian continues to pursue her craft. She will continue to chase after her imagination and explore the world around her with wonder as she develops more aspects of Strength Of Atlantis.

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When she isn’t out creating images, Lillian can be found choreographing for local theater companies as well as traveling as often as possible. She enjoys spending time with her close group of friends and listening to music 24/7.