Morning. Coffee and a magazine. A magazine! I did not touch one for ages. Life is fast paced no time for magazines. Work work work.

Yet… Quietness of the morning. Relaxation. Zen. This is the morning of my session with Sue Bryce. As a client/model. On the other side of the camera. I’m about to experience what clients in my studio get to experience.

My hair is wet in a towel. I’m surrendering myself to the skillful hands of Bri Orozco, hair stylist. No responsibilities, even for my own look. I am loving this. The girl in the mirror looks a little different… and then… is it me? I am ogling my own reflection.  Cascade of curls. She is quite stunning.

 

“What dress looks good? “ – Sue is asking me pointing to a marvelous collection of four dressed adorning the studio. All of them, but one is calling my name. (Yes I brought  3 dresses, and we might use them. Or not. It is up to Sue. She is an artist, and artist can not be restricted by imposing wills or desires. imho)

 

I’m surrendering to Sue’s guidance. “Chin up” “Hold it” “Head this way” “Good girl”. I’m happily following her directions. No need to think what looks good, no need to force a smile and hope it would look natural. Not my responsibility.

 

We go from fashion to vintage… Sue’s guiding dancing moves.

And then I get to experience precisely what I taught just a day prior – a fog photography.

 

The session is over. My mood is soaring. What a day. I was photographed by my inspiration and a mentor. Dreams do come true.

 

Few days had passed. I’m back home. Weekend. We are at the local gallery. Alex is showing me something on his IPhone.

 

I’m speechless. She is so beautiful. That girl in the portrait. Yes I know it is me, yet there is a distance between me and her in my mind.

 

I don’t feel particularly beautiful most of the time.  Women would understand. How we look and how we feel are not of the same nature.

There is a connection though.

When we FEEL beautiful we radiate it out, it is in the skin and in the smile.

Feeling beautiful makes us beautiful.

The rest of the day I’m working on internalizing this girl in the portrait. Making her my own.  It is transformative. The distance between her and me disappearing.

And I feel like flying.

 

A portrait session is not only about portraits…

We are a collective of our experiences…