Why A Photoshoot Is Self-Care

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Last month I experienced self-care in a whole new way. Instead of a massage and facial, I had my makeup done and my photograph taken by a professional photographer. It is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Ladies, you need this! I know how tired we have all been lately.

There is something special about a great photographer and what they can do. Katia Forero of Katia Forero Photography was able to change the way I see myself in one sitting. Watching her look at me through the lens of her camera made me feel beautiful and sexy. Every time she would snap a picture I would feel more confident more in the moment. For a few hours, Katia made me feel important. Like royalty. I know, I know. I need more confidence in my daily life. I need to workout more. But really, when you are cleaning baby vomit out of your hair and folding another load of laundry out of 1000. Being seen and feeling important feels like the most wonderful thing in the world.

 I cherished the feeling of time away.

I took two days to prepare for my portrait session. The first day I spent talking to my girlfriend via facetime picking the exact right outfits. I had a fashion show in my bathroom trying on each outfit and choosing accessories. But it was also really good to catch up with my best friend. Between earring and necklace choices we talked about how life was going now that she was living with her boyfriend. While I talked about how badly I needed a vacation from homeschooling my kids. It was exactly the kind of phone conversation moms are often too busy for when we are home with kids. I cherished the feeling of time away from my responsibilities. See, self-care.

The second-day prep was all makeup and lashes. My sister-in-law is a great makeup artist and she was wonderful enough to do my make up for the photoshoot. To me, getting your makeup done is equivalent to getting your hair did (that’s slang for those of you who didn’t know). When you leave the salon you look and feel like a million bucks! I got to feel like that two days in a row! 

My SIL set out a charcuterie board and rose’ for the makeup practice sesh. Girrrrl, when I tell you it was nice….. It was more than nice. I felt like I was a model. We chatted and laughed while she practiced my makeup and put on my false lashes. And just like at the counters, when she was through, my SIL sent me home with a new lipstick color!

I looked amazing!!

I looked amazing!! And I felt even better. Ladies… lashes are where it’s at! Why did it take me so long to get on the lash train I do not know. My whole face brightened up and I looked younger than my 40ish years. The whole process was such an ego boost. And the next day I got to do it all over again. Except then I put on my pink tutu and white pumps and strutted to my session.

The night before the photoshoot I gave myself a facial and put on a teeth whitening strip. I soaked in the tub with a bath bomb and washed my hair while my husband took care of bedtime with the kids. It was like being on a mini staycation. 

The next day was shoot day. I took care of my skin and tried to get rid of the puffiness from lack of sleep. (I had been too excited to sleep!) Then back to my sisters-in-law’s I went. She did my makeup for the second time and I put on my outfit. I was finally ready for my close up. 

Ya’ll modeling is hard work. I never knew what it took to get a good photograph. Stand here, turn your body like this, stick out one leg. It’s a workout. But Katia was amazing. She was patient and encouraging. Behind her camera, she said things like, “You are absolutely gorgeous!” “Oh, do that face again, its fantastic.” “WOW just WOW, you look so hot right now.” I mean if that does get your blood boiling for the right reasons, I don’t know what else you need! I felt beautiful and stunning for an afternoon and it was fantastic. And when I was awkward and couldn’t stand or sit right, or execute a proper cute twirl without falling over like a wobbly toy, we laughed and laughed. When the shoot was over neither of us wanted to leave, we were having so much fun. 

All I could say was holy sh&*!

The photo session was such a wonderful break from reality. I was living high off of those endorphins for days. Three days later Katia sent me my pictures and all I could say was holy sh&*! They were soooo good. I couldn’t believe what an amazing job she did. In every picture, I looked beautiful. 

Every picture was fantastic. 

During the shoot, Katia would say “oh this will look great in the background” or “Oooh this is going to be a great pic”. And she was right. About ev…ver…ry thing! I cannot believe her artistry. The camaraderie and relationship she was able to build with me came through the camera lens and could be seen in the photos. I could see exactly what had made me laugh or smile in every picture. I remembered every moment of joy I had been feeling. 

I know I will always remember this experience. It was that special. I hope you take the time to do the same thing for yourself. Take time to be beautiful. Take time away from your family. Clothes will always need folding and dishes will always need to be washed. That is just the way it is. So leave them for a day… or two, and get your portrait taken. I promise you will thank me.

To see more of my pictures check out Katia’s blog post.

This post is not a paid ad. Be sure to mention this post for a 10% off the regular session price.

Check out this post on how to get out of bed on really hard days.