From Shadow to Light: A Reclamation Story

Choosing to be seen takes a special kind of courage. Quiet, but powerful.

This Iridescence session was rooted in reclamation—the slow, intentional process of taking yourself back. Not through grand gestures or dramatic reveals, but through presence, breath, and a willingness to soften, even just a little bit.

When she arrived, there was a gentle nervousness in the air. Not resistance—just the kind of hesitation that comes from stepping into something unfamiliar. She showed up open, honest, and willing, even before she fully knew what that willingness would ask of her. That alone mattered.

Vulnerability as a Starting Point

Reclamation begins with consent. Not confidence or bravado. A affirmation that you are choosing vulnerability.

From the start, she allowed herself to be vulnerable in powerful ways - symbolically portraying a traumatic moment that I could tell brought up some big feelings. So we stopped, I stepped back, and let her ground herself in a way I knew worked for her. It only took a moment, but the takeaway was this: her pain wasn’t something she performed; it was something we honored.

The Shift: From Guarded to Grounded

As the session unfolded, I saw her soften. The tension in her body began to release, her excitement about the project was shining through. And then she laughed.

Real, spontaneous laughter at something I said that cracked the seriousness wide open. By the time we reached the later part of the session, she wasn’t just being photographed, she was playful and fully present. I could tell she was having fun, and more importantly, she could feel it too.

Telling the Story Through Space

We began in darker settings—quieter, more contained, with room for reflection. These images held the heavier pieces: complexity, uncertainty, and the parts of ourselves that need time and patience, not fixing.

From there, we gradually shifted.

As we moved through each space, the images became lighter, and she grew more confident; more open. Not because the earlier moments disappeared, but because they made room for what came next. The story didn’t jump from darkness to joy; it moved there on its own, at her pace.

By the final setting, the light wasn’t just around her—it was her.

What Reclamation Can Look Like

This is what reclamation often looks like in an Iridescence session:

• Showing up unsure, but willing

• Letting yourself be guided by the process

• Moving at the pace your body sets

• Allowing joy to arrive when it’s ready

It’s not about erasing the shadows. It’s about integrating them, and choosing to step forward anyway.

Every session tells a different story. This one was a reminder that reclamation doesn’t ask for perfection, performance, or bravery on demand. It only asks for presence. For patience, and the willingness to stay with yourself long enough to feel what’s real.

When that happens—when you stop pushing and start listening—something shifts. Not all at once, and not without tenderness.

The light always finds its way in.