I Shine

Domestic abuse and homelessness could happen to anyone. When you are in this situation you loose yourself and you feel shame, hopelessness, guilt, loss of self-esteem and loss of hope.
I know this, I was one of them 7 years ago.

I have experienced this myself first hand. I came from a verbally and mentally abusive marriage, one day my husband forced me out of our home with my youngest son, at the time he was 6 years old. I had 5 thousand dollars, no job, no where to live and a beaten down self-esteem., I can relate to never feeling good enough— my soul had been beaten down to the ground and I was broke, broken and homeless.

To fast forward to 2018, one day I was at a networking event and the presentation was by an organization called Leap to success that was sharing their contribution to helping women getting back on their feet after domestic abuse.

I knew I wanted to give back somehow and instead of giving money I donated my photography services for all the women that graduated their program to get professional headshots to use for their resumes. I also wanted to give one woman the experience of being pampered and having a full portrait experience for the full day and receive a folio box with all her images and that is how the I SHINE PROJECT came alive.

The I Shine Project raises money and awareness for women that have gone through domestic violence and or homelessness—because I believe every person deserves to SHINE in their own light.

The I SHINE Project provides a full day experience in my studio of some much needed pampering for these women. 

I’m very passionate about making each person who walks in and out of my studio realize how special they truly are in the reflection of the best portrait they’ve ever seen of themselves.

Her I SHINE day begins with a beauty makeover in the hands of a professional hair and makeup artist while relaxing and enjoying a glass of champagne. Once her outer transformation is complete, she’ll spend the rest of the day living the life of a Cover Girl model, I will help and direct posing for her portraits while draped in gorgeous designer gowns and getting back her inner light. 

The first I SHINE story is about of Lori and her dog Spyder that has gone through this experience with me. I have her story documented here on video what happened to her and also a video from her photo session. I am grateful that Lori was vulnerable and sharing her story. To watch Lori’s I SHINE story follow this link.

 Click here for Lori & Spyders Story

Let’s come together and help build the next woman’s self-esteem and self worth. 

Let’s bring back the SHINE in her eyes when she experiences herself transformed on camera. 

Let’s remind her that she’s good enough and strong enough through this magazine style portrait experience. My mentor Sue Bryce said – When we look good we feel good, when we feel good we look good.

Most of all, let’s show her she’s not alone when we come together for her in studio reveal—the moment she see’s her portraits for the first time and it hits her: She is beautiful. She is strong and she is not alone.

In this experience she’ll receive a beautiful keepsake folio box with matted portraits with full digital rights, self-esteem and an inner transformation—feeling beautiful again—PRICELESS.

Each year 20 million women experience some kind of abuse from their domestic partner.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

I’m doing this at cost and asking for donations to raise $1000 towards each woman’s experience of the I SHINE Project. ( The value of this portrait experience is $2000-$3000 ) 

To donate follow this link.

Donate here