CHICAGO WEDDING & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

Tag: self portrait inspiration

  • Self-Portrait Artist Chicago | Inspiration & Creative Process

    Self-Portrait Artist Chicago | Inspiration & Creative Process

    A Little Self-Portrait Inspiration

    Finding my voice as a self-portrait artist in Chicago often means coming face-to-face with the parts of myself I’d rather hide. To be honest, lately, I feel like a broken record. I’ve exhausted myself with the self-help and the self-expansion; I didn’t know such a thing existed, but I guess there can always be too much of anything, even if it’s good. Maybe the best thing is simply acceptance.

    I’m sorry if I treat this little space a bit like a journal, but it’s just the type of person I am. It’s been two years since my divorce. I was married at 21 and divorced by 31. I didn’t plan any of it. However, in that unplanned space, I’ve had to look at who I really am. I am selfish and I hurt others. I am human and I can be kind and loving—in fact, I know I do a great job loving my children.

    A woman in a black long-sleeve top and denim overalls standing against a textured white wall. Self-portrait artist Chicago

    My Journey as a Self-Portrait Artist in Chicago

    I have learned so much these last two years, and I’m glad that my curiosity will always keep me wanting to learn. I made a lot of mistakes too, some so painful that it would make the bravest soul hide in a cave for a lifetime, but I survived and will keep on surviving. Consequently, the things I’ve learned I won’t repeat. Or maybe I will repeat them and just keep learning.

    I love being reminded of my humanity; it’s a reason why I love this job. I work with beautiful people and all kinds of family dynamics. Specifically, I get to capture the rawness of new life and the start of joint decisions and love. Humanity. At least the little moments that make up our daily lives.

    A woman with long dark hair and a nose ring, standing against a light-colored wall. She has her eyes closed, with some hair falling across her face. Self-portrait artist Chicago
    A young woman with long, dark hair wearing a black turtleneck and denim overalls, standing in front of a plain light-colored wall. Self-portrait artist Chicago
    A woman with long hair is looking away, wearing a black turtleneck and denim overalls, set against a light-colored wall. Self-portrait artist Chicago
    A woman with long hair wearing a black turtleneck and denim overalls stands against a light-colored wall, gazing to the side. Self-portrait artist Chicago

    Ultimately, I hope that at least once this year you get to admire photographs that celebrate your humanity. Images that truly reflect you. I hope that you are kind to yourself, and I hope that you choose forgiveness and growth. I hope you choose love and yourself, always.

    A woman stands in a garden surrounded by flowers and greenery, wearing a black dress and a long-sleeved top, smiling as she holds a phone to her ear. Self-portrait artist Chicago
    A woman in a denim overall dress stands outdoors, smiling and posing playfully with one hand in her hair, surrounded by greenery and plants. Self-portrait artist Chicago
    A woman standing among greenery and flowers, looking thoughtfully into the distance.
    A blurred image of a person sitting on an orange bench surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery.
    A young woman sitting amidst purple flowers and greenery, partially covering her face with her hand, with a colorful wooden bench in the background.
    A woman sitting on a wooden bench surrounded by blooming purple flowers, wearing a black top and denim overalls.
    A young woman lying on a wooden surface surrounded by purple flowers, gazing thoughtfully with her hand resting on her face.
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    S

    Winter is the calm after the busy Fall season. It goes by rather quickly. I’m so grateful for that calmness but I like being in the thick of my client work the most. This year however I decided to embrace some personal work a little more for these restless days. The challenge was quite simple ; capture yourself, one image a day for the month of February. I’ve never done anything like this. To be honest I do care about how I’m perceived, I think anyone who says otherwise is just lying to themselves. & honestly this is just screaming I love myself a little too much, for a moment It took on a negative feeling. But when that settled I thought of all of those days when I didn’t love myself, and how l behaved in the moments I lacked self love.

    For the first time in my life I truly + completely love every . single. part. of my being. I am intentionally working on not using words like good or bad to describe myself, but what I will say is that anything that I was lacking before is so full to the brim now. Self Portraiture has always been a gift to the artist. These are a gift to me and my children, I know one day not terribly close but in the near future I’ll look different. I’ll feel different. My hope is that my new found compassion for myself only grows.

    Today in the middle of my 32nd birth year I am heartbroken, growing, expanding, learning and practicing what I preach. I am a multitude of feelings, I am things I can’t describe yet. Words I can’t find. These images have truly shown me that when I decide to show up for myself great things can happen. While these images may seem ordinary to most there are big connections to parts of me I have or I am in the process of grieving.

    I hope you try showing up for yourself

    I won’t lie. This has been so hard. I selected the coldest month to do this project, because clearly I don’t think things through enough lol. I just jump right in. That’s me. So I’m desperately thinking of new ways to use my tiny space. Not to mention new ways to see myself. I’m deeply proud of how I’ve stuck with it and I’m now more than half way through this project. It’s so so cool. I have always been the type to lean into the discomfort. & this, the capturing myself daily has been uncomfortable as hell.

    I try to close my eyes pop on some Carla Morrison and let inspiration take me where it wants to. I have also let my mind wander, my smiles are genuine, thoughts of my children and other people I love run across my mind and I can’t help but smile and send them light and love always. If you are seeking inspiration in anything I hope you always remember you are always the source of greatness. Start with you today.

    FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM

    self portrait of woman topless facing away smiling on a couch
    black and white photo of woamn playing with her hair
    cloudy self portrait of woman and flowers
    self portrait of woman on desk
    self portrait of woman in shower in black and white with hand on the glass
    a self portrait of a of and her son
    self portrait of a naked woman outlined by a plant
    a self portrait reflection of a woman reading
    close up monochrome of self portrait of woman with closed eyes
    self portrait of woman jumping
    monochrome self portrait of legs
    a little movement self portrait
    self portrait of woman in man's white shirt
    self portrait of mom and daughter on the floor reading
    self portrait of woman touching hair