Portraits come in a million shapes, sizes, edits, themes and colors. This one was one of my recent favorites because it tested the boundaries of what Meg thought she was comfortable with. Discovering a new you, becoming comfortable in it, and then totally smashing it are all amazing feelings, but it’s even better when you get to do all of that and have it well documented in photographs too.

Meg has a more gothic aesthetic usually. She’s a book nerd, a horror movie buff, halloween is her favorite season (yes, it’s a whole season for some of us) she lives in black and band tees, and she most recently had a little mini photoshoot with a friend of her that showed her in full demon horns, vampy lipstick and holding a skull. Goth girlfriend material all the way. So when I go to have her in my clutches for a shoot, what else was I going to do besides completely flip her entire routine around? My pink little princess Meg hated every bit of this idea but trusted the process, and with the help of a bunch of her friends that nudged her in the right direction, she had an amazing time being fed delicious pink treats (the macarons were made just for her) and got to see herself in a new light.

Even if you don’t keep it up forever, it’s always an amazing thing to find a new facet of yourself to let shine.