07/07/2026
50 Hit Different This Year
This past year felt really off . . low energy, foggy, no focus, definitely not myself. (Turns out freaking perimenopause sucks ass 😖)
Honestly, I decided to skip my annual photoshoot this year. No excitement, no energy, just wanting to sleep on the couch. But each year I try to make it a priority to update my photos, it’s something I encourage my clients to do because I understand the importance of documenting life at each stage, even the stages we don’t like.
When a client had to cancel last minute, I decided to take that studio time for myself instead. I was a little nervous and unsure of how the photos would turn out, I am 50 after all, and this look was a little more revealing than my usual… It’s still very classy, sophisticated, and representative of who I am in this moment… But something inside me lacked confidence.
I’ve been a photographer for 20+ years. So many clients walk in sure I won’t get a beautiful photo of them. I get it, that’s why I chose to be behind the camera. But my favorite moment during every photoshoot is turning the camera around to show them just how beautiful the pictures are turning out and then watching someone realize: “I actually love this, it’s nothing like I pictured in my head.”
This year, I felt that moment myself. After taking several photos, I began sifting through them and suddenly that wave of surprise and delight came over me, I fell in love with the photos, I fell in love with myself at this age, I fell in love with the fact that I can still look and feel beautiful as I age gracefully and my body and everything changes.
I truly believe there’s nothing more powerful than a beautiful portrait of yourself, one that you’re proud of, one that you love to show off, one that reminds you of all the beauty everyone else sees when they look at you.
If you’ve ever struggled with these thoughts or feelings, or are going through something similar, please reach out… Let’s chat, I would love to take your portrait, I would love the opportunity to change the way you see yourself
xoxo 💋 Jennifer Jean
