Dear Reader,
This letter will tell you most of what you need to know—though not everything. Your Embodied Portrait Session will be completely your own: a reflection of who you are and what truly matters to you.
It’s long on purpose. You’re about to invest your hard-earned money into a deeply personal experience, and I’m about to invest a lot of time and creative energy into giving you the best of what I’ve got. It’s important you understand as much as possible before you give a big, resounding YES.
What we create together will be a physical manifestation of your dreams, your visions—and the parts of you that feel messy or unfinished. Choosing to show up this way can feel daunting, but it’s also wildly exciting.
If you do say yes, I’ll be there to guide you every step of the way.
Welcome to The Embodied Portrait Session
A photo session meets 1:1 workshop to loosen up the bolts and guide you to a portrait that feels like you. Over the course of three weeks, I’ll walk you through a series of questions, creative exercises, and conversations that will help us uncover it all. Together, we’ll demystify the magic of portraiture while creating some of our own.
Let’s begin!
Week 1
Step Into The Portal
This is our first date, so it’s okay to feel a little nervous. We’ll connect over video chat, where I’ll ask questions to get to know you better—and you’re welcome to ask me anything, too. This space is yours. Just find a quiet spot where you feel comfortable sharing openly.
Before we meet, I’ll send over a “recipe book” with questions to get you thinking. It’s not a test—just the start of our journey. Whether you come in with a clear vision or a blank slate, I’m here to help you uncover ideas you didn’t even know you had. Prepare to be surprised.
We’ll cover a lot in this first meeting: go over your recipe book, chat about wardrobe ideas (or lack thereof), set a date for our second call, and pencil in a shoot day. You’re welcome to spill your guts—or not. This space is yours, truly. I’ll also send you off with some creative prompts to help tend to your artist’s soul before we meet again.
Week 2
Cast A Spell
In Week 2, we’ll explore our visions—together and apart. By now, you’ll have new things to meditate on. The stakes might feel high, but remember: everything we come up with is just a springboard. Where we’ll actually land? Only the photo gods know. In the meantime, we get to throw our curiosity at the wall and see what sticks.
What you work on between meetings will depend on what we uncover in our first session. I might ask you to gather more ingredients for our springboard while you experiment with A Ritual for Getting Dressed—an exercise to help you decide not just what to wear, but why you want to wear it.
Already have an idea? No problem—this will only deepen your confidence in your choices.
After completing your homework, we’ll meet again over Zoom to share what we’ve found and continue painting a vision for your session.
This second meeting is all about clarifying what matters most to you. Think of it like setting an intention—not crafting a perfect plan. We’ll use pictures, memories, and dreams to help shape how you feel when we finally meet in real life (!!).
Lastly, we’ll nail down the logistics: official shoot date, wardrobe, location, and time of day. I’ll also walk you through what to expect—and send you off with a few tips to help you prepare.
Week 3
A Ritual For Being Seen
6 Things I Really Want You to Know About Your Session Day:
1. THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT
We’ll step into a portal where time doesn’t exist. Whether we’re together for two hours or five, we’ll take what we need. You’ll have my full, undivided attention. I’ve got nowhere else to be but with you.
2. YOU WILL BE GUIDED
I’ll never just throw you in front of the camera and expect you to know what to do with your hands. I’ll help you remember. This is the part I can’t explain in a letter—but you’ll see. I have no expectations for how you should be—only trust in who you already are. You’ll know what’s happening every step of the way.
3. THIS IS NOT YOUR ONLY SHOT
Please let go of the idea that this is your one chance to “get it right.” You’ll be photographed again, I promise—maybe not by me, but by someone. This doesn’t have to be perfect. Let yourself imagine it being even better than you dreamed—not because of me, but because of you.
4. LIFE HAPPENS
Period came early? Didn’t sleep well? Got in a weird fight before arriving? Totally fine. You don’t have to be at your best. We’ll take time to ground ourselves before we begin—I do this for me as much as for you. There’s room for your whole self here.
5. YOU’LL GET A BIG BOUQUET
Wondering how many photos you’ll receive? On average, between 40–100. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I don’t charge based on time or image count, because that’s not how this works. I care about quality over quantity, and I don’t hold back. You’ll walk away with a bouquet that feels complete.
If that feels ambiguous or makes you anxious, let’s talk about it in Week 1.
This process takes time, trust, and fluidity. It’s spread over 3–4 weeks to let creativity simmer in the background—that’s where much of the magic happens. Structure keeps us on track, offering safety and rhythm amid the mystery.
Very rarely, someone jumps ship—whether from fear or life’s curveballs, the session doesn’t happen. This process isn’t for the impatient or unready. If you pause, you have three months to reschedule. After that, a 50% fee may be required to restart. Deposits are non-refundable. No shame in starting fresh—this protects everyone’s time and sacred energy, including those I’ve set time aside for, just like I’ve done for you.
This isn’t meant to scare you. I care deeply about making images and keeping commitments—but even more about your humanity. If something comes up, talk to me. We’ll figure it out.
If the pace slows, I’ll shift gears elsewhere to keep us on track. “On time” doesn’t mean rushed—it means we’re not avoiding the unknown. We keep the momentum alive so we don’t forget what we’re doing or why. Let’s keep the fire burning. No one gets left behind.
Flexibility is essential—rain or illness, we will adapt! Divine timing is real, but communication is everything. If that resonates, I’m your photographer.
Keep scrolling!
A BRIEF AND *VERY* IMPORTANT NOTE ON TIME, NOT RUSHING, AND KEEPING COMMITMENTS…
A few elements out of your control…
• I don’t alter bodies to appear smaller—ever. I might remove a temporary zit unless you ask me not to.
• I try to keep natural skin texture intact. If this worries you, take comfort in the fact that my photos aren’t super sharp anyway. Regardless—I want you to look like you.
• If there’s something specific you’re self-conscious about, let me know ahead of time so I can be mindful while shooting. I’ve got your back. I will also ask you.
• Turnaround time is about 4 weeks. Need them sooner? Let’s talk first.
• I don’t rush edits. I prioritize balance and give each session my full focus. Your photos matter to me—deeply.
• No sneak peeks, during or after. I know, I know—but trust me, it’s better this way. Happy to share why, just ask.
Ok, keep scrolling.
Quick check-in time.
Hi. How are you feeling right now?
You’re almost done with the letter.
Let's take a moment to breathe deeply—
inhale, aaaand exhale.
Before we dive in further, I want you to think about something:
This is your chance to practice witnessing yourself, even the parts that feel unfamiliar and need extra tending to.
This is the perfect time to practice showing up for yourself and your body just as it is today.
Ready to continue? Keep scrolling!
Money Stuff
Many folks enter this process with “practical” motives for wanting to be photographed. It almost seems easier to invest in something like this if it’s for business or a special event. But what if you’re doing this…just for fun? Here are a few things I’d love for you to keep in mind:
• Spending money on photos of yourself might feel hard to justify—but we’re about to have a real exchange here. Money is just one (very cool) layer.
• Where we spend our money reflects what and who we value. I’m not here to convince you—only to remind you of what matters to you.
• You don’t need a milestone—no wedding, no birthday, no promotion—to celebrate yourself. You don’t need anyone’s permission, either. (Took me years of therapy to learn that, btw.) Whether this is an experiment, an exercise in play or an investment in your artist self, your reasons are valid, special and very cool.
• It’s wild and beautiful that you can just do something like this for fun. What a privilege. What a gift.
• In my dream world, paying for this experience feels good—like a celebration of yourself. And when you do? I get to say: WOW, THANK YOU, WHAT AN HONOR.
A BLESSING FOR MONEY
May the money you spend feel good to spend.
May the money you invest feel like a gift and investment in yourself.
May we create a space and moment in time that will remain with you for many, many years to come.
May the pictures be cool.
May the experience feel expansive and nourishing.
Investment
BIPOC FOLKS
two monthly payments of $300
Freelancers and Those Less RESOURCED
two monthly payments of $400
Well-Resourced Individuals and Professionals
two monthly payments of $500
Donate Towards the session of a BIPOC person
two monthly payments of $600
The images you receive are for non-commercial use only, meaning they won't be sold or directly used to sell a product or service. If you're a brand, entrepreneur, influencer, or artist seeking book or album covers, let's chat first to ensure we're aligned. Many clients seek pragmatic photos alongside a unique experience. You can have both! The price may not even shift. But that’s chat to make sure we’re in tune with the investment that makes the most sense for both of us. This is my livelihood; please respect this process. Your dreams matter, and I'm here to help make them a reality!
YOU MADE IT!
Wow, what a journey, and thank you truly for being here. It means so much to me that you took the time to read all of this. Your curiosity alone makes me feel seen, and whether you have decided this is for you or not, your presence and willingness to open your mind to a different way of creating is so powerful to me. My hope is that this is the right thing for you at exactly the right moment, and I can’t wait to find out if that’s the case.
Are you ready? Do you have more questions? Feeling nervous and just want to talk to me to feel it out? Click the button below to begin the process or fill out the form if you have more questions. I can’t wait.
my space to be messy
I want to acknowledge that putting together this letter was a challenge for me. Trying to synthesize everything I care about while also getting you the necessary information felt intimidating! Even in my attempts to keep things imperfect, lots of disclaimers and fluff needed to be edited out in the process.
I desire to move through this world, embodying this sentiment, so much so that I had the phrase EMBRACE A BIG MESS tattooed over the tops of my knees! I care about this work more than I’ve cared about anything else I’ve ever done. And with that comes the fear of really screwing it up. I make mistakes all of the time. My big secret is I’m doing this work right alongside you - the work of allowing myself the freedom to be seen, take up space and show up wholeheartedly.
What a gift it is to be in this together.