by csp@dmin | Feb 13, 2023 | Beauty is Ageless, Magazine Style Portrait session, Self growth
Free, empowered, confident, bold, playful and brave.
I am expanding the perception of myself.
Being INTENTIONAL with the growth I want to see in myself.
If you know me, you know that I choose hiking boots over heels any day of the week. I almost fell over more than once just trying to stand in these heels 
However, I wanted to see myself differently, have fun and embody new sides and traits in me. Having a visual representation of what that looks like so everyday Christina can step into that too.
I grew up painfully shy, I made the interpretation early on that standing out in any way was not safe, I used to avoid mirrors and was hiding in plain sight. So it takes courage to do the opposite of what your brain tells you to do. But nothing changes, if nothing changes.
Before this photoshoot I went through the same emotions of resistance and insecurities that my clients often feel. The difference this time for me was that I welcomed it in. “Thank you for trying to keep me safe, but I choose to be more.” I got curious and it showed me where I need to love and accept myself more.
Let’s look at the “I have nothing to wear” objection, it is often deeper than that. It’s not just about the clothes. It’s about the acceptance of self. Of seeing yourself. In the end it’s not really about what you look like, it’s how you FEEL! When you are in front of the camera, when you look at your photos and in your life. Am I willing to see my own beauty? Am I willing to take a stand for myself? Accept myself? It’s all an inside job but having your own photoshoot can help you see yourself differently and also feel differently. Drop a heart in the comments if you are ready to put the next version of you on your vision board!
by csp@dmin | Sep 28, 2021 | Beauty is Ageless, Magazine Style Portrait session, Self growth
I’ve had some conversations lately with women who are always behind the camera, taking the photos of the kids, hiding in the back if they need to be in a photo. Now they want to step forward but don’t know if they have the confidence.
But how will you know when you have enough confidence?
How much more confidence do you need? 50%? 78%? Confidence does not just drop in your lap one day. I know that from experience. I was waiting for my confidence to show up and THEN I would do things. Thing is, it never arrived, I was always waiting, until I started to do things that were uncomfortable. Confidence comes from competence and if we never show up, start, do the thing, we will continue to repeat the same pattern all over again.
So I started showing up even if I was super nervous. I started to watch my self talk, turns out I was not very nice to myself. It’s really hard to build confidence if nothing is ever good enough. So I started to change that. What if I was that confident woman, what would I do then? Then I went and did the thing, sweaty palms and pounding heart, and you know what? I didn’t die. It got a little easier next time.
What if you trusted yourself enough to start showing up. What if you did love a photo of you? What if you accepted yourself like you are, right now? What would be possible then? Would you show up a little more in other areas of life? Chances are that if you are hiding in one area of life, you are hiding in other areas too. Do you need to wait or can you start showing up now? If not now, when?
I invite you to step into your power in front of my lens in my studio in Bozeman, where you will discover a confident woman who in fact looks amazing in photos.
by csp@dmin | Apr 9, 2020 | Magazine Style Portrait session, Self growth
DON‘T DECIDE WHERE IT ENDS.
My yoga teacher spoke those words when I was in a particularly hard pose to hold. Can you meet your edge? Hold just a little bit longer?
That got me thinking of when I do this in my life, where I prematurely decide where it ends. I recently began talking singing lessons and when I come to this high note in this Lady Gaga song, I stop, thinking I can’t hit that note, that it will sound terrible (hello perfectionism!). But that was all in my head, I could in fact hit that note after a couple of trials, I had the power in me to do it all along, I just needed a little coaching.
Take a look at these two portraits below. Looking at the woman I was in 2013, I’m cute and younger but I can see the insecurity in my eyes. I was new in my role as a marketing and event manager, going to network at an event full of Silicon Valley hotshots and I dreaded it. Because I did not feel worthy, who was I to be there?
Looking at the woman I am today, I see someone who is on track to own her femininity, to step into her power and journey and ask herself, who am I NOT to be there? And that is powerful. Every time I doubt that, I can look at my new portrait and remind myself.
As a portrait photographer I meet women who have decided where and when it ended. Who tells me with their objections that it ended before this age, before this particular weight or before……. But they decided that they are not worthy of being photographed. Not in this season of life.
But it hasn’t ended. You can hit that note even if your mind says you can’t. You can meet your edge where it is today. And you can move that edge, bit by bit every day until you are in a completely different place that when you started out. Don’t decide where it ends, my sweet friends.
by csp@dmin | Jan 25, 2020 | Magazine Style Portrait session
A portrait session is a moment to celebrate you or it can be shared with your loved ones. It is a photo shoot where we
reveal who you are through art portraits. It is a powerful experience where you will be photographed in my studio, in a
safe bubble where you can be
yourself and let your light shine.
No stress, no judgment, no pressure, just you and I having
fun creating your portraits.
I want to take portraits that reflect your true beauty back to you, that reconnects you with sides of yourself that you might have forgotten or set aside for another season. They will show you in your full power.
Experiencing a photo shoot is a beautiful experience in self-growth and I want to create it exactly how you want it to be. That’s why we will do a consultation before the photo shoot where you can share your dreams, wishes and fears about your shoot and we plan everything from wardrobe to hair and makeup.
On the day of your photo shoot you will be pampered with professional hair and makeup.
Don’t feel comfortable in front of a camera? Don’t worry! I got you. We put on your favorite music, I will guide you through poses and expressions, you don’t have to worry about a thing, before you know it you will go into that safe bubble and we will just have fun!
And you will take portraits like these home.
If you want to know more and explore what a photo shoot might look for you, please don’t hesitate to book a complimentary portrait exploration session here.
Can’t wait to explore how you want to be photographed!
xo,
Christina
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