There’s something really fun about photographing women who are entering a new decade and fully leaning into it instead of being weird about aging.

Brenda came into this shoot wanting something different from the vacation and bikini photos her Instagram is used to seeing. She wanted photos that still felt sexy and confident, but elevated. More intentional. More her.

And whew.
She absolutely delivered.

One thing I loved about this session was watching her slowly open up throughout the shoot. She told me beforehand that she’s a little shy at first, but once she warms up, she can become the life of the party. That was literally the perfect description because by the middle of the session, she was fully in her bag.

The camera loved her.

And honestly, having her sister there made such a difference too. She was helping with outfit changes, hyping Brenda up the entire time, making her laugh, fixing little details, and just creating such a good energy in the studio. You could tell they genuinely enjoy each other and that comfort started showing up in the photos too.

Also… can we discuss how insane these outfits were?

The black lace look with the spotlight setup felt so cinematic and dramatic in the best way possible. Then the blazer dress completely shifted the energy. It gave rich niece who owns multiple passports and doesn’t answer emails after 5 PM. Which honestly tracks because Brenda told me she tries to take at least three international trips a year and runs a travel business on top of being a chemical engineer. Like okay miss work hard, play harder.

And the cake?
Obsessed.

I loved that we kept the props simple because it let her be the moment. The entire session just felt confident, playful, grown, and beautiful without trying too hard.

One thing Brenda said in her questionnaire really stuck with me. She said she hopes one day her kids will look back at these photos and think, “damn, my mom was a baddie.”

And honestly?
That’s exactly why I love portrait photography.

Not just because the photos are pretty, but because they freeze a version of you that deserves to be remembered. A version of you that was living, celebrating, evolving, taking up space, and actually enjoying life instead of waiting for permission to do it.

Brenda, thank you for trusting me with this season of your life. You are gorgeous, driven, funny, warm, and absolutely THAT GIRL.

And if you’re reading this thinking about booking your own birthday session, please let this be your sign to stop waiting for a “better time.” Celebrate yourself now. The current version of you deserves to be documented too. Let’s chat!