Since 2012 I have listened to women list myriad reasons why they should wait to have a portrait session:
they want to lose 50 lbs, they want to lose 10 lbs, they want their hair to be longer, they want to do it when they have a tan, they want to do it when they don’t have tan lines, they want to do it when it’s ‘not so busy’, they want to do it when they achieve the butt they had 30 years ago, they want to do it when they’ve had their teeth whitened, they want to do it when they’ve had their teeth ‘fixed’, they want to do it for a milestone birthday that is still years away…
the list is long, friends, and I too have been guilty.
The truth is that I wholeheartedly believe all the encouragement I’ve been doling out for all these years:
don’t wait, the time will never seem ‘just right’, you are beautiful NOW, you will never be this young again, you will never regret having professional portraits to own, enjoy, and pass down, and EVERY WOMAN DESERVES A PORTRAIT (many actually!) THAT SHE LOVES!
Alas, believing the above for myself has been more of a struggle than I care to admit. I always had a reason to not make the time. I always had a reason to feel ‘not ready’…and, spoiler alert, the years tick by and there’s no getting them back.
The last proper self portrait session I did was in 2013. It was a good experience for me - getting in front of the camera, feeling how that feels - and I promised myself to do it more… I know it helps me be a better photographer to intimately know what it feels like to be vulnerable enough to step in front of the lens. Alas, aside from the one in 2015 for The Birthday Book Project (which was required as a contributor), I haven’t done one since…until yesterday.
People, my diet during quarantine has been abysmal (the upside is I have definitely supported local restaurants!), I’ve gained weight, I’ve only averaged one workout a week (and I think my math might be flawed to make me feel better 😂), I sit at my computer all day and watch movies and Prime and Netflix all night, I spent too long in the sunshine this weekend (yay for sun!) and have a bit of a burn, my water intake has consisted of whatever H2O is in coffee/wine/ice, and my hair has been seriously neglected. I’m sure many of you can relate 😬 BUT, I’d promised myself that I would - without fail - capture a birthday portrait this year and so that is exactly what I did.
Self portraiture in studio is NOT easy…I think I spent as much time troubleshooting using a remote trigger, the interval timer, the flashes not always firing due to third party tech…blah blah blah… than shooting anything salvageable, BUT I managed to get a few I love, a few that make me smile, a few that I feel are representative of where I am at right now, and a few that crack me up. I learned a lot (focusing was not as straightforward as it could have been and not having someone to relate to on t’other side of the camera was HARD), and I was reminded of just how awfully hard we are on ourselves. 😢 All that said, I love that I can say with integrity that ‘the time may never feel ‘just right’ but please, please have your portrait made’. I am so happy that I held my own feet to the fire and can encourage all of you without reservation, because I walked the talk!
every woman deserves a portrait (or ten) she loves!
#CARPEDIEM
See deets for new offering below…
I want to photograph YOU!
I am going to be offering outdoor portrait sessions starting in June at a reduced rate.* We will have private access on a beautiful piece of family land only 50 minutes from NW Calgary. Time to breathe the fresh air, capture beautiful imagery of beautiful you, while minding the social distancing recommendations. Ball gown, tee & jeans, or fine art nude…let’s honour your here and now!
Stay safe, stay well, and seize the day!
xo Lori
*conditions apply