Sara

When Sara walked into my home/studio, she had the most nervous smile.

“I ALMOST DIDN’T SHOW UP!!!” she confessed. “I almost said screw the money screw it all, I can’t DO IT.”

I felt her to the depths of my soul. Even as a photographer myself, I still get nervous! There is no question – it’s hard being in pictures. First of all, god we never feel ready, do we?! Second, we have NO clue what to wear. Then theres the matter than “holy shit, I’ve completely forgotten what to do with my hands. do I keep them by my side?! have I always been this awkward?! I can’t remember how to move my body! What if I can’t pose?!”

Being photographed is INCREDIBLY intimidating. And nerve-racking.

I know – you’re like, “wait, Irina, aren’t you supposed to say ohhhh but it’s sooooo easy! trust me!”!?!

Nah girl, we deal in truth over here.

Being photographed IS NOT for the faint of heart. But here me out:

We got this. It’s MY job to pose you! MY job to guide you. All you have to do is TRUST ME. And we’ll laugh and talk, get glammed up, eat some crepes (cooking is my love language – perks of shooting in my home), test the light…. we’ll take a few snaps and then “wait WAAAIT – is that me?! is that REALLY ME?!” you’ll say as I show you the back of the camera?!”

“pretty neat, eh?” I’ll say trying not to seem smug. “And this was just the light test!!”

So you relax a tiny tiny bit, and trust me a bit more as I pose you. *click* another great shot. “Whoa,” you think to yourself – “ummmm I’m gorgeous. is this witchcraft?! I don’t care photographer lady, keep working your magic.”

Then, before you know it, you’re smiling like you’ve never smiled before, you’re spinning in beautiful dresses, working that shoulder for me, giving me smolders you never thought you had. “WHO EVEN AM I”, you think to yourself. “This is definitely witchcraft and I AM HERE FOR IT.”

By the time we’re done you won’t be praying that there’s at least one or two good pictures. (girl I’ve been there) INSTEAD, you’ll be doing math acrobatics in your head to make sure you can buy all of them. Cause you JUST KNOW. They’re all gonna be FIRE and you aint leaving a damn picture behind.

So there you have it thats what it feels like. A photoshoot isn’t a walk in the park. It’s hard, brave stuff. And it takes a certain kind of woman to push thru all the feelings and show up anyways.

A woman like you.

I WANT THIS FOR YOU.

But first – YOU have to want this for you. You have to want it bad enough.

Just like Sara did.

Her shoot was a celebration of demanding more out of life. Demanding to take space and be loved fiercely. Showing up vulnerably and bravely. It was a shoot to prove to herself she could do this.

When she saw her images, Sara sobbed. I cried too. Cause God it’s beautiful to watch a woman fall in love with herself. What a gift a woman like that is to her friends, her family, her babies.

Here are a few of her images that made my heart skip a beat. I hope you love them as much as I loved creating them.

Hair and makeup by Renee J Beauty

Follow us on Instagram @irinanegreanportraits and on FB. We are now booking SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER. To book your own photoshoot, visit the contact me tab or email me directly at irina@irinanegrean.com