How I work
The work I create is for women who seek to see themselves not only inside the natural world, but ultimately, in complete unity with nature. I have held sessions with women that have had painful relationships to their body and seek to heal old wounds. I photograph women who are pregnant and want a different kind of maternity session than what we commonly see on social media. I photograph mothers skin to skin with their newborn babies and with their children as they grow.
Do I have to be naked?
It is not necessary to be nude for your session but I do require that conventional clothing is absent from the images. With conventional clothing, there is not only the expectation of how the clothes should fit, but they also mark time and year. I am happy to provide an array of beautiful, handcrafted, natural linens and textiles for draping and coverings for small children that will blend into the image. One of my goals for every session is to create images with implied nudity rather than actual nudity so that my clients can hang an image in their home without feeling exposed. All of my sessions come with a framed and matted 24 x 36 fiber print that is museum quality and will become a family heirloom. I work with a local, woman owned, fine art print maker and framer here in Los Angeles.
The Process
You will receive questions to think about prior to our phone meeting. We will set up a time to meet over Zoom and discuss the details of your thoughts, such as your purpose and what you are trying to achieve and if you have a specific location in mind. I have traveled all over the country to photograph women in a specific place that is sacred to them, however I am also happy in your backyard as long as we can find a spot that is completely free of concrete. As I spend so much time exploring, I also have locations on hand that are tucked away and private. We can explore all of this during the initial assessment and I can also help you decide the direction you would like to go in if you are unsure. Whether you have a really clear vision of your portrait, or you need guidance, we will work together to create a session that will become a keepsake.
I am camera shy
If you are someone that is uncomfortable with having your photo taken, then you are my favorite kind of client. What we will create together is not a selfie nor is it taken through the lens of the male gaze. Although I believe that the images I create have a sexual aspect to them, because we, as women, are sexual beings, I do not approach the session with the intent of creating “sexy photographs”. I’m not interested in taking images that will make other people want you. I desire to create an image that helps you see yourself in a way that you haven’t before. I want women to see their bodies, not as sexual currency but for the powerful and wise beings that we are.
I will guide you through the experience so that you are relaxed and in the moment. One might believe that I love being photographed, as I am a photographer, but the truth is that I feel anxiety whenever photos are being taken in my midst. I tolerate having my photo taken now because I know that one day after I am gone my children and grandchildren will want to have photos of their mother and grandmother. Still, it is not something I am truly comfortable with. It has taken me a lifetime to figure out how to be comfortable in my own skin, which is how I know how to pull my clients out of their self-consciousness and into the present moment. There are two things I hear after almost every session. The first is “I feel amazing”. Being naked in nature is invigorating and connecting with Mother Nature skin to skin is nourishing on a cellular level. It is not unlike how our children crave the closeness of our bodies. We benefit from putting our hands in the soil and walking barefoot upon the earth. The second thing I hear is gratitude for how comfortable I made them feel during the session. I see the beauty in every body and I feel a calling to help women see the beauty in themselves.
Depending on desired location and the selected package, the session will be a few hours. Sessions will take place either in the very early morning or late afternoon around sunset for the best light. Pricing, Packages and an “A La Carte” menu are available upon request.
“I have already settled it for myself so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.”
GEORGIA O KEEFE