What Happens When You Say Yes to Yourself

Katie: Red Hair, Real Confidence, and a Return to the Lens

Some photoshoots start with a camera. Others start with a story. Katie’s began with both.

I first met Katie and her family while photographing them for a local magazine feature. Right away, I noticed her stunning red-toned hair and quiet elegance—she was the kind of subject photographers dream about. What I didn’t know at the time was that she and her husband had both modeled years ago, before kids and busy schedules took center stage.

When she mentioned that, I asked if she’d ever want to step back in front of the camera—this time, just for her. It’s not always easy to get women in their 30s and 40s to say yes to a session like that. But Katie didn’t hesitate. We both knew it was going to be something special.

Over the next several days, we texted back and forth with wardrobe ideas, posing inspiration, and concepts for the shoot. That kind of collaboration is one of my favorite parts of the creative process. You could feel the excitement building.

On shoot day, it was clear the road to the studio wasn’t stress-free. Life happens—especially with kids and busy mornings—but the moment Katie stepped into the studio, the tension began to melt away. She shifted from mom-on-the-go to confident, radiant woman right in front of my lens.

"As a 40-year-old woman, I didn’t expect to feel the way I did—confident, radiant, and completely alive," Katie shared with me afterward.

The shoot took place entirely in my studio, where we played with lighting, expression, and style. Her husband came along to support—helping hold reflectors, assisting with lights, and bringing the kind of quiet encouragement that says more than words ever could.

At one point, I turned the camera around and gave him a sneak peek of one of the images. His eyes lit up. He smiled, looked at Katie, and said, “Wow.” That moment right there? That’s the good stuff.

"Something about the way Jeff captured the light and energy made me feel like I was back in my early 20s. Beautiful, vibrant, and unapologetically myself."

The photos we created that day were more than beautiful portraits—they were a celebration of confidence, of love, and of showing up for yourself in a world that too often tells women their moment has passed.

"This experience reminded me that age is just a number, and self-love only gets stronger with time."

Katie, thank you for trusting me with this chapter of your story. For stepping into the studio even when the day felt rushed. For letting the lens see who you really are: vibrant, powerful, and absolutely radiant.

This wasn’t just a photoshoot. It was a reminder—to all of us—that beauty only deepens with time.