Portraits Transform Us.

Portraiture can be a powerful - and empowering - part of the healing process.

Portraits transform us. This belief is the heart of this little Camas photography studio.

Trauma transforms us, too. Trauma is familiar to my little family.

Birth trauma (both kids’ births); husband’s death when they were 2 and 5; their Nana neglected to her death (not my choice, nor in my control); THEN daughter’s traumatic brain injury and Aslan’s and my LongCovid.

It’s all been a trip - a trip that left us with baggage.

When Elspeth started to feel better (into almost the 5th year of her health saga), and we three collectively were no longer heading the wrong way health-wise, I finally felt like maybe I could start to relax, just a little. But I looked in that damned mirror and I just saw my mom staring back at me, in a body I no longer recognized. And let me tell you the kind of body dysmorphia that comes with a TBI or chronic illness onset at age 12, or 10.

No one in this house felt very pretty, or powerful. So yes: We know trauma.

I’m relatively new to the transformational power of portraits, though. When LongCovid granted me the energy to start practicing my art again. I practiced on myself, taking inspiration from this video, “The Healing Power of Self Portraits” by Sean Tucker: https://youtu.be/qwEGHa1-Bro?si=QqQ_u9M6V0kwsQEw.

I reprogrammed my mom’s self talk in my head, making my own strong face the one I see staring back at me through her makeup mirror; my voice the one I hear.

Healing through portraits: This self portrait is meant to write over negative images that used to be reflected in the author’s mirror. It is a picture of healing self talk.

I embraced my embattled belly (literally).

Healing through portraits: This belly has been through a lot, and it deserves all the love I can give it.

LongCovid at age 10 left Aslan with jaw issues, spine issues, and a body that wouldn’t gain weight. Treatments are ongoing. He’s not felt handsome of late. Now, I know he’s got his daddy’s looks, and of course I tell him all the time. But even I saw this shot on the back of my camera and called him over with, “Whoah. Come take a look at this!”

Healing through portraits: Photos like this help Aslan focus on the man he is becoming, rather than the youth LongCovid stole.

And Elspeth? I could (and will, ha!) write a book on the price of trading a days-away first period (it was, it really was) for a traumatic brain injury at age 12. Her body has been through literal hell, and it’s not over, maybe never will be. But. Now she’s the face of this photography studio.

Healing through portraits: Elspeth’s reaction to her portrait session was all I needed to see to know how transformative portraiture can be. Having walked with her through traumatic brain injury to the healing she’s achieved today, I can say with authority: It’s powerful.

I practice transformative portraiture because sometimes believing in yourself is all you have.

Maybe it’s all you need.