Facing Fear: A Fort Worth Photographer's Expression Through Self- Portraiture

I really love seeing other people’s self-portrait work…like really love seeing it. I get this feeling of admiration as I scroll through images they feel represent who they are as artists and people. I also find admiration in their willingness to push past the fear to put themselves out there. Taking self-portraits adds a whole other level of vulnerability to the mix. It’s tough enough as it is to create work of other people where you have full control and can see things from every angle. When working with a subject, us photographers have more vision and can use our technical eye and directing skills to elevate the image. We can perfect lighting and composition with ease and can work with another person’s natural movements and ideas. With self-portraits however, we are limited in all of these things. We have restrictions and blind spots as to how we set up and compose an image.

One of the most compelling aspects of self-portraiture as a photographer is its ability to capture raw emotions and vulnerabilities. Stepping in front of the camera forces us to confront ourselves – our insecurities, fears, and imperfections. Yet, it's within this vulnerability that true artistry often emerges. By embracing our authenticity, we invite viewers into our world, fostering connections through shared experiences. Self-portraiture also presents an opportunity to push the boundaries of creativity without the constraints of a client or a specific brief, we're free to experiment, innovate, and challenge ourselves artistically. From conceptual self-portraits to experimental techniques, the possibilities are endless and I often find myself thinking differently as an artist then I would have with a client session.

Take the images below for example. My overall message with these was to convey beauty in the breakdown. I had been experiencing a lot of doubt in my work lately and wanted to let other’s know that things can feel daunting and dark while can altogether be leading to a place of newness and power. There is so much freedom in painful life-seasons. When you feel the lowest you’ve ever felt, there’s little pressure to perform or meet impossible expectations. In the words of Miranda Lambert, “happiness ain’t prison, but there’s freedom in a broken heart.”

I not only felt proud after taking these photos but I felt beautiful. I felt like I can only imagine most of my clients feel after having their own boudoir sessions done: nervous to see what our minds trick us into believing about who we are and then overwhelmed with relief that it was only lies that we had mistaken for truth all this time. This is growth and the risk is worth taking, friends.