CHICAGO WEDDING & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

Tag: self portraits

  • 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.
  • Self portrait inspiration Chicago | Conversations with the sun

    Self portrait inspiration Chicago | Conversations with the sun

    This is the recipe of life

    said my mother

    as she held me in her arms as I wept

    think of those flowers you plant

    in the garden each year

    they will teach you

    that people too

    must wilt

    fall

    root

    rise

    in order to bloom

    r u p i k a u r

    Today I have some self portrait inspiration chicago, I bought myself some sunflowers recently. It’s one of my favorite flowers mainly because of the big connection to the sun and how they are so in love with the sun. Yes I know all flowers technically need the sun, ha. But it seems to me like sunflowers are this special letter from the sun to us. They bathe in it, live for the sun. Then in a short amount of time die. They are flowers that make a statement. Even if you buy a bunch of them, every single sunflower has their own personality it seems. They remind me of Mexican Art. They remind me of resilience. I think of fire and power when I see that flower. All other flowers, especially in my favorite group are dainy, soft and beautiful but this flower is different. Yes, you can’t deny its beauty, but the thing I love most of all is their grandeur. It’s a helluva flower.

    Self Portrait inspiration in Chicago

    I started this self portrait series with the intent to focus on my hair. & how i’ve outgrown the hate for it finally at 31. Perhaps hate is a strong word but I felt it in waves towards my hair. I guess somehow the wilted sunflowers on my coffee table became the star of this series. And I don’t mind that at all. My hair can have it’s shinning moment another time.

    I’m currently relearning and unlearning things I couldn’t even imagine I’d be in the middle of at 31. I stupidly had this notion when I was younger exhausted by life that by 30, I would be Ok. And it’s not that I’m not Ok, but it seems that the thing that I greatly tried to avoid. The very thing I didn’t want. I became. & now I am so grateful for that. For the way it made me come to acceptance. Im in the middle of healing, but more importantly in the middle of living.

    You see when you aren’t your most authentic self, you keep pushing forward regardless of the pain to the next milestone. You think to yourself, perhaps when I have kids I’ll feel better. Perhaps when I get married it will be Ok. Or when I am wiser and older, I will finally get relief. But relief never comes because it doesn’t really exist. The tension we hold. That’s just how it feels when you’re constantly running. God knows I’m an expert at running, I could run forever if they’d let me. Pushing everything far far away from the front of my mind. I finally had this little rip in my heart, it brought me to my knees and it caused me to make all of the life changes I am currently living. My heart caught up with my mind I guess. So I am buying myself sunflowers because I am learning the difference between being alone and loneliness.

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