Lisa's Story of a Woman
As a Lacombe Alberta portrait photographer, I meet so many women who arrive feeling nervous—but hopeful. Lisa’s Story of a Woman session was created for women over 50 who want to be seen, celebrated, and remembered exactly as they are.
When Lisa arrived for her session, I could sense. . . a mix of nerves and excitement. Not fear. Not doubt. Just that quiet "butterflies in the tummy" that comes from stepping into something that’s meant just for you.
Yes, you will have fun!
She had been photographed by me before, a fun little session where she was surrounded by her sisters, so she trusted the process. (That one deserves a blog post all on it's own!) She knew there would be laughter. She knew it would be fun. (I'll be honest here, what I didn’t expect was how deeply the experience itself would land, for me!)
Lisa is a mom of three. A gramma of eight. A woman who, by her own admission, is almost never in the photos. Like so many women, she’s usually behind the scenes—anchoring the family, holding the moments together, making sure everyone else is seen.
This session wasn’t about changing that part of her. It was about expanding it.
One of the most beautiful surprises for Lisa wasn’t something she saw in the mirror—it was something she witnessed as I was photographing her. She shared later how much it meant to see my genuine excitement as I worked. How I’d glance at the back of my camera after taking a photo and giggle with delight. How my joy made her feel happy, relaxed, and completely at ease.
That matters more than most people realize.
When a woman feels that the person photographing her is thrilled to be there—to create something meaningful with her—it changes everything. The camera stops feeling like an observer and starts feeling like a collaborator. This is one of the things I love most about being a women's portrait photographer! To see that joy, you'll have to experience this session yourself :)
Why these portraits matter more than ever
For Lisa, the images that came out of her session aren’t just portraits. They’re proof.
They represent her—not only as a caregiver or matriarch, but as an individual woman with a presence, a story, and a face that deserves to be remembered. Lisa shared something that stopped me in my tracks: she loves ancestry work. She loves finding old photographs of people from the past—those rare images that suddenly put a face to a name.
And now, she has become that face.
She imagined a future moment—years from now—when someone might stumble across her portrait and feel that same spark of connection. That quiet joy of recognition. This was her.
I don't believe there was just a single moment when Lisa felt seen—because she felt it the entire time. But one stood out. As she tried on clothing options, I chose one and told her it “screams you.” She laughed—but I think she also felt known. Seen in a way that didn’t require explanation or performance.
That’s what this project is about.
Not so much about posing.
Not at all about perfection.
Just recognition. For who you are. Even if it's just the "conservative type gal" you see yourself as.
Why Lisa chose the Story of a Woman session
When I asked Lisa what she’d say to a friend who was on the fence about booking a session like this, her answer was exactly why Story of a Woman exists. She said: "Do it. It’s fun. It’s something we never do for ourselves. We’re always playing our roles—wife, mom, gramma—but we forget to acknowledge ourselves as individuals. Having someone remind us of that is such a fun experience."
Lisa’s session wasn’t about stepping out of her roles.
It was about being seen beyond them.
And that’s the quiet power of this work.
These portraits are not just for now. . . .
They’re for the future.
For memory.
For legacy.
For the woman who deserves to be visible in her own life.
Lisa, thank you for trusting me with your story. 💛
Feeling like it's your turn?
If you’ve been feeling the quiet pull to step in front of the camera—this might be your moment. I’d love to create something meaningful with you.
