For the Woman Who’s Never Done Anything Like This Before

If you’ve ever thought, “I love the idea… but I don’t think I’m the kind of person who does something like this,” this is for you.

Most women who book a Secret Session have never done a private photography session before. They’re not models. They don’t know how to pose. Many of them feel awkward in front of a camera — and some of them almost cancel the night before.

That’s normal.

A Secret Session isn’t about performing or pretending to be confident. It’s about creating a quiet, private space where you can show up exactly as you are — no expectations, no pressure, no audience.

These sessions happen in your home, whether that’s an apartment in Highland Park, a hillside house in Mount Washington, a cozy bungalow in South Pasadena, or a sun-filled space in Pasadena. Being in your own environment matters. It’s familiar. It’s grounding. You don’t have to figure out where to put your hands or how to “be.” You just get to exist.

Everything is photographed on instant film — real, physical photographs that develop right in front of you. (More on why instant film is the answer to privacy here) There’s no editing, no retouching, and no digital files floating around. The images don’t live on a computer or in the cloud. They live with you. The only eyes that ever see them are yours (and mine, briefly, while I hand them over).

This is especially important for women who feel nervous, self-conscious, or unsure. There’s no pressure to share anything. No obligation to post. No expectation of a reveal. This experience is completely private and entirely yours.

You don’t need lingerie. You don’t need to feel “ready.” You don’t need to wait until you love your body more or feel more confident or hit some imaginary milestone. You’re allowed to document yourself now — in the middle of things, exactly as you are.

Secret Sessions are slow, gentle, and deeply human. We talk. We pause. We let moments unfold naturally. There’s room for nerves, laughter, quiet, and softness. Nothing is rushed, and nothing is forced.

So if you’ve never done anything like this before — if the idea feels both exciting and terrifying — you might actually be exactly who this is for.

Because this isn’t about being fearless.
It’s about being real.

And sometimes, that’s the bravest thing of all.