Self Portraits Helped Me Love My Trans Body
Self portraits are what started everything for me.
I always loved taking photos. Whether it was taking pictures of friends, family, or the beauty of the world around me. But for so long, I always hated the photos that were taken of me. It wasn’t until I started my transition did I really fall in love with taking photos of myself.
That changed it all for me.
I started to finally see myself. Something I never have been able to do before. Through my photos, I found parts of myself I didn’t know how to access any other way.
When I look back at photos I’ve taken of myself before I started my transition, I see someone trying to exist in a body that never felt like my own. I see discomfort, distance, and a version of myself I didn’t recognize, even though it was me looking back at the camera.
Looking back at those photos, I don’t feel shame, or regret… I feel compassion. They reminder me of how far I’ve come and how much strength it took to survive that version of myself.
That’s why documenting my transition became so important for me. My self portraits have become a way to document my growth in real time. Each shoot allowed me to become more comfortable in my body, accept my flaws, and gain a confidence I never had before. In many ways, it became a form of art therapy for me.
So yes, documenting your transition matters — especially in a world that refuses to believe trans people exist. When we document our stories, we’re creating evidence of our joy, hardships, and ultimately, our humanity. Being visible and sharing our stories creates proof of our existence in a world that constantly tries to erase us. It gives others something real to hold on to, to look forward to, and to learn from. For those who are still searching for the language, safety, or the hope, that visibility can be life changing. And sometimes, simply knowing you’re not alone is enough to save a life.
That’s why I’ve become so dedicated to sharing our trans stories with the world.
I didn’t always have the examples to look up to, so I know how powerful it can be to see yourself reflected in someone else’s story. I realized if my photos could be art therapy for myself, they could be healing for others too. That realization is what jumpstarted my entire career and led me to start documenting other people’s trans stories, allowing them to see themselves as art too.
If you’d like to work with me to turn your own story into art, click this link to book with me!
Self portraits are where my true passion began. And they will be how I continue to document my life as I grow older — not just for myself, but as history of a trans life fully lived.
