A Woman of Few Words

"I've noticed changes in myself. Like, I'm really coming into my woman's body. I want to see that," Keegan told me. Her smoky, textured voice was even and calm as we talked for the first time. "Sometimes I feel like, I don't know, not sure about these changes and the experiences I've had in life. Like, so many other people know more and have done things. But then I feel like I'm happy about it. Like I'm growing and I am doing things." 

"What changes have you noticed?" I asked, my pencil tapping against my leg as I balanced my phone against my shoulder. 

"I don't know," Keegain said, pausing as she thought. "It feels like everything- physical, mental, my mindset has changed. I can stick up for myself. I'm not afraid to voice my opinion." 

As the reader and viewer of the beautiful Keegan, I want to give you some understanding about Keegan- she is a woman of few words. Beyond talking about her love of being an aunt and her love of being on stage, this sums up the motivation behind her portrait session. 

She thinks deeply, knows what she wants, and doesn't have any desire to fluff it up with extra words. If you know me or have read any other work I've put out there, you know I LOVE extra words. In fact, I love them so much that sometimes double words slip in and get published before I catch them. 

Initially, Keegan's comfort with fewer words made me nervous. 

Words, expression, and story are how I get to know someone and that dictates how I photograph them. 

Keegan had no need for extra story or emotional unburdening. She is even, steady, and unflappable. And, something I didn't realize tille a little later, Keegan trusted my from the beginning. For her somewhere between her seeing my work online and talking to me over the phone she made the choice to trust me, my insight, and my creative direction as her artist. 

And ultimately, she knew what she wanted and she made it clear in as few words as possible: 

• Feminine pictures because she has a laborious job where dressing beautifully never happens 

• To see herself differently from how she is day to day, year to year

• Wants to see her tattoos 

• Really loves red 

Here is a woman, who despite her youth, despite her hesitation due to her perceived lack of experiences, has an incredible amount of confidence and understanding. 

Keegan trusted me to do what she came to me for. 

She trusted my expertise without question. There was no balking at ideas. No wide eyed hesitation as I moved around the studio with a huge red canvas that seemed to have a life of its own. 

Keegan was steady and happy to be with us. 

She's easy, trusting, lovable, confident, thoughtful, and full of patience. 

Keegan has reminded me that you don't need a grand epically emotional story to exist in pictures, though I love everyone who has those reasons to step in front of my camera. 

Keegan reminded me that sometimes just wanting to see yourself is reason enough. 

Knowing you have changed is reason enough. 

Wanting to feel beautiful and different, wanting to see the best version of yourself, wanting to do something new, wanting to be daring, wanting to be bold, wanting to see yourself in a different color and a new light, wanting to fall in love with this new version of you even though you love the you you were last year- all these simple but profound reasons are more than enough to be photographed. 

Because Keegan was so present during her session I was able to focus on her beautiful features, her otherworldly eyes, her gentle smile, and her elegant movements. She didn't need reassuring because she already knew she belonged and knew I would be with her every step of this experience. 

• 

• 

She exists beautifully without the need to explain why she's there or why she's choosing the path she's on. 

Keegan is. 

And that is more than enough. 

Love, Melinda

Does this story remind you of your own, or perhaps someone you love?

You don’t need more pictures. You need better ones.

And any reason is a good reason to be photographed.

Whether you're celebrating a milestone, honoring the woman you've become, planning a mother-daughter experience, or simply longing to see yourself in a new light, your story deserves to be told beautifully.

My private portrait studio in Ulster, Pennsylvania, just 15 minutes from Athens and Sayre, is a place where you can step away from the ordinary, be celebrated, and create portraits that will mean something long after the moment has passed.

Perhaps it's time to see the most beautiful version of yourself.

I'd love to welcome you here.

Joyfully serving Ulster, Athens, Sayre, and Towanda, PA, as well as Elmira, Corning, Vestal, and surrounding areas of New York and Pennsylvania.