There’s a moment in every woman’s journey when she looks in the mirror and doesn’t recognize who she sees.

Maybe her body has changed.

Maybe her energy feels different.

Maybe she’s been through grief, motherhood, illness, or a life-altering shift—and the woman she sees now feels like a stranger.

As a luxury Austin, TX photographer who specializes in empowering women through portraits, I’ve heard this story more times than I can count.

But I’m not just holding space for others.

I’ve lived it too.

After surviving cancer, navigating menopause without hormones, and watching my body transform, I found myself grieving a version of me I didn’t know how to let go of.

I missed my old spark. My old energy. My old body.

I wasn’t who I used to be.

And I wasn’t yet the woman I was becoming.

The Letter That Opened My Heart

One of the most healing things I did during that time?

I wrote a letter to myself.

Not to my future self.

Not to the woman I thought I “should” be.

But to the woman I was right now.

I sat in the quiet and poured out every truth I had been holding in.

I said things like:

“I’m sorry I only loved you when you looked a certain way.”

“I’m proud of how far you’ve carried me.”

“You are worthy—now. Not later.”

That letter softened something in me.

It helped me forgive, release, and begin again.

It helped me look at myself with kindness, not criticism.

Ready to Try? Here Are Some Prompts to Get You Started

If this speaks to your heart, I want to encourage you to try writing your own letter.

Start small. Keep it honest. Let it be messy.

Here are a few prompts to help you begin:

Self-Love Letter Prompts

• “I’m sorry for…”
• “I forgive you for…”
• “Thank you for…”
• “I see your strength in…”
• “You don’t have to prove your worth because…”
• “You’ve been holding so much, and I want you to know…”
• “I love you, even when…”

There’s no right or wrong way to do this.

Just let your truth speak.

Why It Matters

So many women wait until they feel more confident, more toned, more “together” before they believe they’re allowed to be celebrated.

But the truth is: healing begins with being seen.

Not just by others, but by yourself.

As a self-love photographer in Austin, TX, I’ve witnessed firsthand what happens when a woman steps in front of the camera—exactly as she is.

She doesn’t just take pictures.

She reconnects with her essence.

She gives herself permission to show up without shrinking.

She remembers her worth.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’re in a season of becoming…

If you’ve been hard on yourself, hiding from the camera, or waiting for the “right time”—

I want to invite you to document this chapter with intention.

📸 Book a portrait session.

Let’s create images that reflect the truth of your journey.

Not because you’ve arrived—but because you’re becoming.

You’ll look back at these portraits years from now and be so glad you captured the woman you were in this moment—raw, resilient, radiant.

Ready? Click here to inquire or book your session.