Hello and welcome to Goddess Mirror - a place where I share photos from photoshoots with amazing women, my life learnings, and other things that might inspire you. Search for articles, browse stories by category, or get lost in reading all of them!
all stories
A video story of my introduction to Sunsport Gardens Naturist resort in Florida, a vulnerable story of being seen, completely unarmored, in a circle of other women. In this video interview with Katie Ospina we touch on the topics of body acceptance, self-love, and how artistic nude photography can be used as a way to accept, honor, and celebrate the body you are in.
A personal branding photoshoot for an ADHD coach, before which both my client and I had a severe case of ADHD and almost forgot why we got together that day.
I used to be envious of other women online. It was hard to pinpoint where the envy was coming from. Was it because they were prettier, bolder, or was it because they were doing something that I secretly wanted to do.? This story is about a big shift that happened when I honestly admitted what I wanted and how it changed everything.
What does it really mean to believe in yourself? Inspired by a Toastmasters experience, this article explores the habit of self-confidence, the power of choosing yourself, and why voting for yourself every time can transform the way you show up in life.
Branding photoshoot for Rabbi Rayzel Raphael who created a beautiful oracle deck. Our task was to create photos for her website and social media to promote the deck.
A story about what drove me to create self-portraits, the healing power of self-portraits, and where and how I created these implied nude self-portraits with yellow flowers.
This March I want to celebrate Women Making History Month. Not the women in the history textbooks, but the everyday women who raise children, show up every day, and by their acts of courage, self-love and kindness, change the world.
From a person who hated selfies to now embracing selfies as way to self-love, this is a true story of my experience. Whether you take selfies with your cell phone or create stunning artistic portraits with a fancy camera, self-portraits are a great way to get to know yourself, heal, and express yourself creatively.
A maternity photoshoot that portrays the new mom to be as a strong, fierce, powerful soldier. Decked in combat boots and a man’s jacket, these photos invoked the type of energy this woman would need the following day as she goes into labor birthing her daughter at home.
A photographer’s honest story about her desire to be seen, craving attention, and finding art as form of self-expression and healing for herself and others.
My YouTube channel was unfairly REMOVED! Please read to learn how YOU CAN HELP GET IT BACK.
As adults, we often don’t give ourselves the luxury of playing or creating. Unless something has a direct effect on how much money we make, we don’t bother. Surprisingly, creativity, or simply allowing yourself to create for the sake of playing, has an impact on our confidence. Read more to find out how the concepts of confidence and creativity are linked.
A sunrise with a surprise twist that could have been a disaster for some photographers, but was actually a gift for me and my beautiful client Stefanie.
goddess photoshoot stories
As adults, we often don’t give ourselves the luxury of playing or creating. Unless something has a direct effect on how much money we make, we don’t bother. Surprisingly, creativity, or simply allowing yourself to create for the sake of playing, has an impact on our confidence. Read more to find out how the concepts of confidence and creativity are linked.
A sunrise with a surprise twist that could have been a disaster for some photographers, but was actually a gift for me and my beautiful client Stefanie.
Goddess Photoshoot for a gorgeous empath and embodiment coach who looks like a beautiful angel or a swan, waving her soft white wings.
Sometimes one word can change everything.
It was the case with this photoshoot. We were going to photograph on the beach next to a park with banyan tees next to it. But it all changed with one message.
Hours before the shoot we had planned, I was suddenly feeling lethargic and irritable, uninspired, resistant, and not very playful. I thought, "Ugh, I don't feel like myself at all, this is definitely not how I want to be seen and captured, maybe I should reschedule."
Photos and stories from three Goddess Photoshoots with the amazing Amy Shine.
While on vacation in Adana, Turkey, I offered free photoshoot to local beauties in an attempt to grow my portfolio and create portraits in breathtaking Turkish lands. Here is how the process unfolded and what came out of it.
A portrait photography session for a military veteran named Courtnee in West Palm Beach.
A Boca Raton based portrait photographer goes to Adana, Turkey for a vacation. These are the portraits of a Dutch-Turkish goddess they create one fateful evening.
These 6 strategies for going about planning and preparing for your Goddess Photoshoot will take the overwhelm out of it and give your creative process direction.
I knew she would say “I feel the most alive at the ocean” when we were discussing the location for her Goddess Photoshoot. And she did :)
You know that feeling when you have your hair done? You feel magical, notice the attention you get from everyone, can’t stop admiring yourself in the mirror and even when you are NOT looking at your reflection in the mirror, you can’t help but smile because you KNOW that you totally ROCK? That feeling. Would you like more of that?
This girl made me break the law.
But in a very innocent type of way, the way jaywalking is kinda breaking a rule but it is not serious offense :)
She was sitting in a hammock tied to two giant pine trees next to a creek in the woods of West Virgina. She was smiling, so carefree and joyful that I was immediately drawn to her. Being in that neck of the woods was an adventure for me. I left my two kids under the age of 4 with my husband and went to the East Coast Tantra Festival to photograph.
“Do you want to end this year with a bang?” I ask Lina having December 31 at 4 pm in mind as a date and time for her personal branding photoshoot. “Sure”, she says, and I have a feeling it will be a memorable one.
A timeless bond of two beautiful women - mother and daughter - captured in beautiful photos: Mother and Daughter Goddess Photoshoot in Boca Raton, Florida.
She was a jovial 18-year old with braces and skin that during that most delicate stage of our life presents the most problems. When she contacted me now, years later, about wanted to be photographed, I remembered her beaming face right away.
"How old is she now?" I wondered, "she must be around 25". So much time has passed since we ...
This Goddess did not need a confirmation that she was a Goddess and gently opted out of the goddess reading. (A goddess reading, which is included with the Goddess Photoshoot, suggests which goddess' energy you embody and is typically done over the phone by an intuitive goddess-friend of mine). I had met Jennifer Nicole at an event the year before, when hungry for artistic work, I volunteered to photograph a Marry Yourself Ceremony (by Lourdes Starshower).
"You will recognize me by a green top and I will probably have my nose in the book" - these were my cues for identifying Nora whom I was about to meet for a pre-photoshooot consultation at my favorite French bakery.
Nora's Goddess is Brigid, the patroness of poetry and inspiration, the ruler of creativity and ...
PERSONAL BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY STORIES
A comprehensive guide to a personal branding photoshoot for real estate agents.
I sneaked out from the house to the car to have a few minutes of quiet time to prepare for a phone consultation with Tracy before her personal branding photoshoot. As I read her detailed story in the personal branding questionnaire that she sent over, I started crying. Her story is so powerful, that I decided to share it in this article.
It was a perfect house for our photoshoot, but there was one problem with it, and there was A LOT OF IT! Be sure to watch the behind-the-scenes video at the end of the story.
“We want people to think of us as a SPA for CLOTHES, not as dry cleaners” says Irina with a smile about their business, OZO2 eco dry cleaner.
Olga came down from New Jersey for her personal branding photoshoot and we got lucky because we got to photograph in a location that perfectly suits her brand!
Amy needed photos for her new business, Inner Bloom Wellness, so she reached out to me. Here is the process we went through to arrive at the photos that we created together.
Great things don’t happen by accident. Personal branding photoshoots are no exceptions. Check out these 8 tips to make sure your next (or first) personal branding photoshoot is a great success.
Photos from the photoshoot of Rachel Shapiro, a South Florida personal chef, nutritionist, gardener, and green goddess.
“I will be honest, I feel a little anxious about our photoshoot today.”
That is the text message I receive a few hours before I head out to photograph Mary-Reid’s personal branding photoshoot.
The truth is, I have been DREAMING about photographing this girl for a while. One look at her and you will understand why: a cascade of fiery red curls, super-long lashes and a beaming smile. But the one time that I actually got my lucky chance to work with her was when she NEEDED photos.
“Do you want to end this year with a bang?” I ask Lina having December 31 at 4 pm in mind as a date and time for her personal branding photoshoot. “Sure”, she says, and I have a feeling it will be a memorable one.
Claire Collins has dedicated her entire life to the real estate industry - she is a real estate broker and also offers white glove concierge services to her clients when it comes to managing estates and condominiums. Claire came to me to because she needed to update her headshots, but after talking on the phone for a while, Claire understood the importance of showing her current and potential clients a little more than just a business headshot. In order to connect with her audience and show them a little more of …
If you are an entrepreneur, a solopreneur, you are your own brand. The tone of your messages, the clothes you wear, the images you put out on social media all communicate to the world about your brand.
Personal branding photography is images that market YOU and show to your potential clients what it feels like to work with you. A consistent personal brand image that speaks to your ideal customer builds trust and is a foundation of a successful online marketing campaign. Personal branding photogrpahy is more than just a headshot, it goes beyond that, and shows off the various facets of your personality in different settings, not just traditional “work” environment.
"Please don't mention anything to them about our photographing in the gardens", I caution my model and client, Denise, before we enter Morikami Museum and Gardens.
"Of course", she nods in agreement as we open the heavy doors.
"We are just ordinary park visitors going for a stroll", I mumble to myself as we approach the cashier, an elderly gentleman named Joe.
Dry leaves are rustling under my feet as I make my way deeper off the paved path, where sunlight does not reach the ground because of the thick foliage above. It looks like someone spilled a giant bucket of sepia to cover this part of the park canvas, with the exception of a few resilient greens that are making their way to the skies. A good way to ensure not getting a spider web on your face is to extend your arm in front of you and wave it in the direction in which you are going ...
life lessons, my artistic journey
From a person who hated selfies to now embracing selfies as way to self-love, this is a true story of my experience. Whether you take selfies with your cell phone or create stunning artistic portraits with a fancy camera, self-portraits are a great way to get to know yourself, heal, and express yourself creatively.
Discover practical strategies to overcome limiting beliefs and unlock more joy in life.
My YouTube channel was unfairly REMOVED! Please read to learn how YOU CAN HELP GET IT BACK.
As adults, we often don’t give ourselves the luxury of playing or creating. Unless something has a direct effect on how much money we make, we don’t bother. Surprisingly, creativity, or simply allowing yourself to create for the sake of playing, has an impact on our confidence. Read more to find out how the concepts of confidence and creativity are linked.
The closest I have ever been to France is a French bakery. A place where I can practice my bonjour and merci beaucoup and pretend I am in France.
The story of how it all started. Plus the wisdom to those wanting to follow their bliss. Read it all here.
You know that feeling when you have your hair done? You feel magical, notice the attention you get from everyone, can’t stop admiring yourself in the mirror and even when you are NOT looking at your reflection in the mirror, you can’t help but smile because you KNOW that you totally ROCK? That feeling. Would you like more of that?
Do you feel like you can use a little more JOY in your life? This is an amazing book for EVERYONE who wants to experience more JOY in their life, and certainly a must-read for artists and creatives.
As I am driving up a mountain, the fog gets denser, the road starts spiraling more, and my heart constricts inside my chest. I am supposedly almost there, but I remember seeing somewhere on a website that if a GPS leads you up the mountain, then you are going the wrong way. But which way am I supposed to go? I can't call my husband because there is no cell phone reception in this area. I drive up, then back down, and then after connecting with my husband...
After I created this self-portrait I realized that the inspiration for the idea came from my daughter! On the conscious level I was experiencing what I call artistic hunger - not having an outlet for my creativity due to not having shot in over a month. My husband had given me a dozen red roses for our fourth-year anniversary and I made up my mind to photograph them. Since I am not as keen on photographing objects as opposed to people, it struck me as a brilliant idea to do a self-portrait. No makeup, but luckily, freshly washed hair, a nursing bra stained with breastmilk, I set up a tripod while my daughter was napping in a swing. I threw
My parents named me Masha, or Maria, which are the same name in Russian. My given name was something that I lived with for many years, never hating or loving my name, just being ok with it, I suppose. I was also ok with who I was, but not in total acceptance of myself and full of fears and limitations. One day, when I was working at a language school where I got to meet a lot of people from different countries, I met a young woman from Argentina. She came in with her boyfriend ...
I always dreamt of being a photographer and have been fascinated with photography for years. In May of 2012, when I realized that I can have the life of my dreams if I dare to do the things that bring me joy, I bought a camera and resolved to learn photography. Having acquired the most important piece of equipment for the task, I signed up for two classes at a local art school (Boca Raton Museum of Art School) - Introduction to Digital Photography and Photoshop for Beginners. I learned a lot...
yoga photography in south florida
The clouds were dark grey, thick and heavy with rain as I was driving to Keslee’s photoshoot. Will we be able to create the photos she needs ASAP for a yoga clothing company sponsoring her posts?
We have fifteen minutes before the sun rises and since we still need to get to the rocks, where we will be photographing, we practically jog as soon as we park the car at Spanish River Beach.
As soon as we step off the wooden boardwalk and sink our toes into the sand, the salty ocean air gives me a grand sense of calm and at the same time energizes me. There is a topless forty-something man with long hair who greets us with a huge smile,
"Good morning. What a gift!", as he gestures toward the ocean.
Imagine taking a hot yoga class that makes you feel like you have worked out such DEEP muscles in your body that you didn't even know existed and all the toxins evaporated from your body leaving you light, sweat pouring down your face which you gave up wiping, and you are feeling proud for having shown up.
Sharp rocks,
slippery rocks;
waves crashing on the huge rocks and sprinkling us with salt water;
Dry leaves are rustling under my feet as I make my way deeper off the paved path, where sunlight does not reach the ground because of the thick foliage above. It looks like someone spilled a giant bucket of sepia to cover this part of the park canvas, with the exception of a few resilient greens that are making their way to the skies. A good way to ensure not getting a spider web on your face is to extend your arm in front of you and wave it in the direction in which you are going ...
Women’s Stories
First of all, what is a goddess reading? Goddess reading is an intuitive reading usually done over the phone, during which the woman who is having the reading done, finds out the energy of which goddess she embodies. For the curios, a goddess reading is used as a tool to set the direction for the Goddess Photoshoot, for deeply spiritual people it is a way to connect more deeply to the Divine Feminine. Some women use it just as a way to choose the outfits, props and location for the photoshoot based on the goddess mythology. Others go as far as setting up altars to the Goddess and learning mantras and affirmations associated with their particular Goddess.
Eliza's Goddess Photoshoot captured in a video and photos of her transformation.
Yemaya has been there all along - watching, waiting for us to notice, but we get so wrapped up in ourselves, in our daily routines, in our personal hopes and dreams, that we miss out on the obvious: The ocean of joy, the ocean of timelessness, the blue-green sparkling jewels cast upon our shores every day.
Had an amazing photoshoot with Marny just a few weeks ago. Marny took such great care in preparing for the shoot by finding the perfect dresses and accessories. (Properly selected outfits are one of the steps that ensure a successful photoshoot!) Marny embodies the energy of Isis, the Egyptian Goddess of magic, motherhood, healing and rebirth.
My recent Goddess Photoshoot with Francesca Bliss was the culmination of several important themes in my life. For many years, I’ve studied Women’s Spirituality and Goddess Archetypes as a way to access the innate divinity in myself and other women. I believe that what you worship and what you defile say a lot about a person. For instance, in Western culture, why is God a man, and woman his submissive? This dynamic shapes not only religion, but the relationship between the sexes, and ...
Laura is the embodiment of playful, creative energy. Her passion and exuberance for life are as evident in her brightly colored hair as they are in her smile, her writing, and her bright personality. Laura is a graduate student in the English program at Florida Atlantic University, and has an extensive background in gender studies. She is also a writer of graphic novels and a cosplayer when she can find the time. Creative energy is Laura’s inner fire, and for this shoot...
When Francesca Bliss first mentioned the ‘Goddess photo shoot’ concept, my sensible self replied, “How silly!” And within a nanosecond, my adventure-seeking self said, “I’m in! When can we start?”
You see, I’m at that stage of life where being sensible and responsible are not only goals, but necessary qualities. Yet, I can’t deny it. My appetite for adventure has never diminished.
I met Teri at the New Moon Circles that are regularly held at the Red Tent and are lead by the radiant Elaina Beam. I admired this woman from afar - her statuesque posture, huge smile, eyes radiating kindness, and a sparkle of tinsel strands in her blond hair. I remember one time "the homework assignment" for the circle was to bring a poem and Teri and I happened to bring the same poem, The Guest House, by Rumi. When I was eight months pregnant and revisited the women's circle after a...
artistic nude photography
Nude portraits of beautiful Dawn in the forest of West Virginia.
Artistic nude photoshoot in nature for a beautiful goddess Grace.
"In this country people equate nudity with sexuality",
said Adam, one of the volunteers for my most recent art project. Adam is a member of a Florida Young Naturists group, a community of nudists 18 - 35 years of age. The nearest to Boca Raton nude beach is in Aventura, just north of Miami, in Haulover Beach, where the sand is white and ...
all stories
On creativity, empowerment, and life lessons:
As adults, we often don’t give ourselves the luxury of playing or creating. Unless something has a direct effect on how much money we make, we don’t bother. Surprisingly, creativity, or simply allowing yourself to create for the sake of playing, has an impact on our confidence. Read more to find out how the concepts of confidence and creativity are linked.
The closest I have ever been to France is a French bakery. A place where I can practice my bonjour and merci beaucoup and pretend I am in France.
You know that feeling when you have your hair done? You feel magical, notice the attention you get from everyone, can’t stop admiring yourself in the mirror and even when you are NOT looking at your reflection in the mirror, you can’t help but smile because you KNOW that you totally ROCK? That feeling. Would you like more of that?
Do you feel like you can use a little more JOY in your life? This is an amazing book for EVERYONE who wants to experience more JOY in their life, and certainly a must-read for artists and creatives.
I always dreamt of being a photographer and have been fascinated with photography for years. In May of 2012, when I realized that I can have the life of my dreams if I dare to do the things that bring me joy, I bought a camera and resolved to learn photography. Having acquired the most important piece of equipment for the task, I signed up for two classes at a local art school (Boca Raton Museum of Art School) - Introduction to Digital Photography and Photoshop for Beginners. I learned a lot...
Goddess Interviews
You recognize a Goddess when you see one. When I first met Lourdes Starshower, I knew she was an extraordinary woman.
This Goddess came into my life unexpectedly, as most of them do. I met her at a Moon Circle and her ear to ear smile immediately struck me. Little did I know that this woman would have such a tremendous impact on my life.
"I always wanted to be old. I remember days when my grandma would take me to this old folks' home to visit her girlfriend. We would walk into this place, smelling of medicine and air freshener, and spend hours there.”
The shadow of the leaf on my thigh caught my attention. I was walking the trail, high on coffee and the nature around me, and that leaf, became my co-star in the self-portraits I created that morning.