Unretouched, Unapologetic: The Power of Seeing Ourselves As We Are

A few months ago, a woman walked into my studio for a portrait session. She was turning 58, newly single empty-nester, and said she wanted to feel beautiful again—but on her own terms.

After our session, as we sat together reviewing her images, she said something that stopped me in my tracks: “I don’t want to be retouched. I want to see me.”

No skin smoothing. No wrinkle removal. No digital lifting, tightening, or reshaping. Just her.

When she looked at the final images, soft light falling across her cheekbones, laugh lines gently curved around her eyes, she teared up and whispered,“That’s me. And I love her.”

That moment wasn’t just about a photo. It was about power.

Suki embracing and celebrating who she is right now.

When We Feel the Need to Erase Ourselves

It’s not uncommon for women to ask for retouching that softens every line, removes every shadow, and sometimes they even ask to have decades taken off their appearance. I understand where that comes from—and I don’t judge it. But, it has left me really thinking about how we see ourselves as women after the age of 50.

We live in a culture that constantly tells us youth is the only kind of beauty worth celebrating. Every ad, every magazine cover, every filter on social media reinforces the idea that aging is something to hide, fight, or fix.

So when a woman wants to look 30 years younger in her portraits, she’s not being vain—she’s trying to align with a standard that was never created with her in mind.

But here’s the thing:

When we erase the signs of our age, we sometimes erase the evidence of who we are.

The richness of our lives, the proof of our laughter, the depth we’ve earned.

And while it’s perfectly okay to want to look refreshed or polished in a portrait, I also believe in the beauty of balance—where we honor your story and help you feel radiant, not erased.

Why More Women Are Saying No to Retouching

For generations, we’ve been told that our value lies in how youthful, flawless, or “ageless” we appear. We’ve been airbrushed, filtered, reshaped, and refined into someone society deems acceptable. But something is shifting.

More and more women—especially over 40—are choosing to opt out of that narrative. They’re choosing real over perfect. Truth over polish. They’re choosing themselves.

Saying “no” to retouching is not about rejecting beauty. It’s about redefining it.

It says: “I don’t need to be altered to be worthy of being seen.”

It's a way of reclaiming the narrative around aging—one photo at a time.

Erica marvelously embraces her full self. Her lines are beautiful!

Empowerment Through Authenticity

There is power in being fully seen.

When a woman chooses not to be digitally altered, she’s making a radical statement:

“I am enough as I am.”

She’s saying that her story—written in the fine lines around her eyes and the texture of her skin—is worthy of being honored, not erased.

She’s embracing the decades she’s lived, the laughter, the heartbreak, the resilience.

She’s choosing to own her image, her identity, her truth.

And in doing so, she often discovers something beautiful: She no longer needs permission to feel powerful.

What We Learn By Seeing Ourselves Clearly

Choosing not to be retouched can reveal truths that have been hidden beneath years of pressure to “fix” ourselves:

Self-acceptance: We begin to appreciate what we used to criticize.
Confidence: There is boldness in saying, “This is me, and I love her.”
Freedom: Letting go of unrealistic standards is one of the most liberating things a woman can do.

The truth is, beauty doesn’t come from being edited. It comes from being honest. Unfiltered. Fully present.

Regina at the Studio....bold and beautiful in everyway.

My Role: Holding Space for the Real You

In my studio, we celebrate women. Yes, everyone gets some make-up, but it’s meant to bring out your features under the studio lights. Whether you choose to be retouched or not in post-production is entirely up to you. I’m here to create what YOU want—but know this: the power lies in the choice.

I don’t just take pictures. I reflect back your strength, your softness, your spirit.

My job is to show you what the world sees when you stop hiding and start owning every part of yourself.

And when you do—whether you’re 44 or 84—you light up the frame with something no filter could ever create: Truth. Beauty. Power.

No edits required.