For a long time, I stayed behind the lens.

Photography was my quiet place—structured, safe, full of rules I could follow without ever being seen. I loved helping others show up confidently in front of the camera, but I never imagined I’d do the same for myself.

Then something shifted.

One day, I decided to try a self-portrait. Just one. Just to see.

I didn’t expect much—maybe a blurry shot, maybe a moment of discomfort.

What I got was something else entirely: freedom.

That first image wasn’t perfect. It was raw, moody, a little strange. But it was me.

And it cracked something open.

A Timeline of Courage

The First Portrait

Awkward. Honest. A little hesitant. I remember setting up the shot and feeling like I was breaking some unspoken rule. But I pressed the shutter anyway—and that moment changed everything.

**Shadow of A Touch**: The first self-portrait.
You can see it in my eyes—the hesitation, the vulnerability, the quiet fear that every photographer recognizes when working with nervous subjects. Only this time, the subject was me.
This image marked the beginning of something deeper: the courage to be seen, even when it felt uncomfortable.

The In-Between

As I kept experimenting, I found new ways to express emotion, movement, and mood. Some portraits were playful, others intense. Each one taught me something—not just about photography, but about myself.

**Distorted Self**
A self-portrait captured through a cracked mirror, this image explores the fractured lens through which we often view ourselves. Society teaches us to measure our worth against impossible standards—but here, I begin to reclaim my reflection. The distortion becomes a symbol of healing: imperfect, unapologetic, and wholly mine.

**Feeling Blue**
I painted my naked body blue. Not for shock. Not for spectacle. But to embody a feeling—exposure, vulnerability, the ache of transformation.
This half-nude self-portrait was a turning point. I wasn’t just experimenting with colour—I was letting emotion lead the composition.
Sometimes, to grow, you have to strip back the layers. You have to feel it. You have to be *seen*.

The Latest Image

Dark. Abstract. Bold. This one feels like a culmination of everything I’ve learned. It’s not traditional, and that’s the point. It speaks to the courage it takes to be seen differently. To stand out. To try something new even when it feels uncomfortable.

**Beneath the Veil**
Movement and shadow. Power and softness.
This image holds the tension between strength and desire—between feeling sexy, feeling strong, and still allowing a flicker of vulnerability to remain. I didn’t pose—I *moved*. I let the fabric speak. I let the light fall where it wanted.
This portrait is a reminder that you can be bold and tender, fierce and soft, all at once. You don’t have to choose. You just have to show up.

Why I Show Up Now

Stepping in front of the camera changed everything.

It made me a braver artist. A more empathetic guide.

Because now I know what it feels like to be vulnerable. To fidget. To wonder if you’re “doing it right.”

And I also know the magic that happens when you stop trying to be perfect and just show up.

Self-portraits help me hone my craft, experiment with new techniques, and push creative boundaries.

They remind me that rules are meant to be broken—and sometimes, the weirdest idea leads to the most powerful image.

**Defiance**
Every woman has heard it.
“You’re too much.”
“You’re not enough.”
“Smile more.”
“Shut up.”
“Slut.”
“Frigid.”
“Crazy.”
“Fat.”
“Thin.”
“Are you on your period?”
The list goes on—and we carry it, even when we don’t speak it.
This self-portrait is my stand.
My body. My gaze. My truth.
I am not here to be palatable.
I am here to be *whole*.
Strong. Desirable. Angry. Soft.
I am telling myself—loudly, unapologetically—*I am enough.*
This image is for every woman who’s ever been told to shrink.
We don’t shrink. We *rise*.

This Journey Sparked Something Bigger

This wasn’t just about taking photos of myself.

It was about reclaiming visibility.

About choosing courage over comfort.

And ultimately, it gave me the confidence to take the first real step toward something I’d only dreamed of: starting my own photography business.

Now, I help others show up boldly—whether they’re camera-shy or ready to break the rules with me.

To Anyone Hiding Behind the Lens…

Try the thing that scares you.

Be the subject.

Break the rules.

You might just find strength you didn’t know you had.