Have you ever needed to show yourself something to bring back your confidence? For Ashley, this was something on her list of things to do after her life changed forever. Ashley explained to me that she wanted photos to feel empowered, glamorous, and like her true self. Guess what? That’s exactly what I do! To help you understand the significance of this portrait session, I must tell you about this strong and resilient woman. When I first met Ashley, I had no idea what her past looked like and was shocked when she told me. Two and a half years ago, Ashley found herself stuck – stuck in a tumultuous and toxic relationship with her husband, Cliff. Cliff had been battling loss and depression, which caused him to spiral into alcoholism. Matters worsened after having their second child. Ashley faced emotional and verbal abuse that became almost unbearable. Ending their marriage, her husband committed suicide by pointing a gun at his head in front of her. Absolutely devastated, Ashley was not only left with post-traumatic stress disorder but also as the only living parent to her two children.
It’s unbelievable to imagine the pain that this woman has been through. We spoke at length about her progression through therapy and the amazing strides she has made since then. This woman emits such positivity and possesses an affable influence that you cannot help but smile and laugh with her. In part of her journey, Ashley has decided to speak out to inspire others who may also be affected by trauma or depression. This monumental step forward is leading her into extraordinary things – coming next month is her first public feature sharing her story! Please stick around to see what updates I have to share about Ashley’s inspirational growth.
To capture the essence of Ashley,
we did a few different sets with various wardrobes. To start, I did Ashley’s makeup so that she could transcend through every scene. With a fine art approach, we made her look like she belongs in an oil painting. Playing with shadows and jewelry, we placed her in a timeless setting (Belonging to what time period? I’m really not so sure.). Afterwards, we had a bit more fun by throwing on some dresses that she could wear on a date. We had our laughs as we played with expressions and changed poses. As the finale, I had her do a runway walk down the street (while looking out for traffic). We captured her silky pink cocktail dress in high heels with a heel pop at the end!
Empowerment
Self-Love & Fun
Street Walk
Kristina Bozanich Hi there! I am the creator of the post that you’ve just seen. To give you some background, I am a photographer located in Saint Cloud, FL and service the Orlando area. I am also a self-taught makeup-artist, blogger, and have a background in primatology & conservation. To get the latest updates on my social media, follow me!
