When most people think about getting their photo taken, they think about poses — where to put their hands, how to angle their face, how to “look good.” But intentional portraiture asks something different, something deeper: What would it feel like to be seen for who you actually are?

It isn’t easy to hide who you truly are. You may have learned to wear a mask—performing, meeting expectations, surviving—but it takes immense energy, and stepping out from that can feel frightening.