Just Her | My First Solo (Just You) Portrait Session

This was my very first Just YOU session.

I was still in the early stages of building my portfolio—offering free sessions, learning as I went, and figuring things out without any client experience guide to lean on. There was no plan, no prep email, no polished process. We just flew by the seat of our pants and made it work.

What I remember most wasn’t the settings or the light—it was what she asked me before we started:

"Can we keep most of the photos serious? I don’t think I look beautiful when I smile."

That stuck with me. Because she was bubbly. Funny. Someone who lit up the space when she laughed. But I also understood what it felt like to be unsure about how you’re seen, or how you see yourself. So we held space for the soft expressions, the quiet strength, and the subtle confidence. It wasn’t always easy—her smile kept sneaking in—but we worked with it gently.

And here’s the beautiful twist: she still uses one of those images as her profile picture to this day.

That tells me something shifted. Maybe not all at once. But enough.

This session wasn’t perfect. I was new, figuring things out as I went. But it taught me that creating safe, honoring images starts with how you see someone long before you click the shutter. And I’m grateful I got to start here.