Battling with Doubt

I admit, I often hide behind my glasses, spell check, AI, and all the other tools that help me feel a little more polished.

For much of my life, I've tried to visually appeal to others, hoping they would find me pretty, call me beautiful, or compliment my smile.

If you knew me growing up, you'd remember the photoshoots with friends, where I would do backbends, hair flips, and anything they asked of me. I honestly did it all for the affirmations that I was beautiful, that I was enough.

The past year and a half has been a real struggle. I've battled self-doubt, confidence issues, and the feeling that I am not good enough for some of the most important people in my life. It has been exhausting.

Today was particularly hard. I dressed in a color I never wear to push myself. Was I uncomfortable most of the day? Of course! Wearing red, I stood out in the crowd, practically asking for people to see me.

Honestly, it was a mix of good and bad. I received compliments from people who matter to me, and when I looked in the mirror, I felt a spark of excitement for the first time in a while.

Yet, it couldn’t completely lift me out of the funk I was in. Family issues, work stress—everything was piling up. But I wanted to feel beautiful, so I took out my camera and started taking pictures. I began with the intention of capturing a headshot, but I felt stiff, not like myself. So, I started spinning and dancing, and suddenly, my

confidence was unleashed.

It’s wild what a little dancing can do for your body!

To summarize, I don’t feel beautiful every day, and I will likely hide behind my glasses on most days. But what I want to leave you with is this: when you’re having fun, in the flow, and being yourself, that’s when you truly shine. That’s when you are at your brightest, when you are genuinely authentic.

If you are ready unleash your authentic self in photos- reach out to me! I would love to help you shine!

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