Mitzi Starkweather Photography

April you MADE IT THROUGH your bone marrow transplant - I’m sitting here on your birthday reflecting on the crazy past year and how strong, resilient, and brave you’ve been. Your body got a complete factory reset 7 months ago and you went through absolute hell but what a celebration today is. Your doctors are amazing, there haven’t been any complications, and your body is HEALING.

When we shaved your head and did AS I AM portraits the day before you moved into the hospital in December we were so sad, so nervous, but hopeful. It’s been an honor to be by your side throughout this journey. I can’t wait to see what the next year has in store 💛

You are ART.

Fun. Ease. Joy. HEART. That’s really what these sessions are about.

And if you bring your favorite person along, we still do photos separately (you can even cheer each other on). Watching the love these two have for each other morph into their own love for themselves was something beyond beautiful 💛 Thank you Brittany and Brian.

MATT - AS I AM

When your shoot began I read you these words aloud,

“here's to ending the isolation, to building new and beautiful relationships, to creating Art that I love, and committing to reminding myself that I am more than my struggles. That I am worth it. And that Self-Love is the best Love.”

And then we did an imaginary “cheers” and I said, do you know who wrote that? YOU DID. Last week.

You had forgotten, and it was my joy to remind you and then to continue to remind you of your magnificence through photographs.

Keep showing up, my friend, to the people and places and creations that make you remember who you are. 💛

Hello loves, portrait commissions are currently closed but I'll be announcing August > dates in July so make sure you're on the list!

I won't email you anything dumb I promise: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64af135426d35119ca2dcc42?fbclid=IwAR2oPpBSjLr753OxnkQyD2DEXmpFEphNXryTub0BJbn7WFnpua4BAAz7AzQ_aem_AcS1OA9F-XA7BZxbqVmOweaT7JZkiKWf83l-2zcwYiLoQJXW5ipctLIVTaF-MR1Gydg&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

I love seeing you share your AS I AM portraits, and I love the words just as much 💛

KRISTEN - AS I AM

“Stepping in front of the camera exactly as I am was truly a transformative experience. I went into the session a ball of nerves, but Mitzi put me at ease and we had a lot of fun! As a photographer that focuses of helping women celebrate their strength and unique beauty, I shared some of the same fears my clients have. I was worried about all the things I'm self conscious about resulting in images i wouldn't feel beautiful in. Instead I was surprised how much I loved how my natural hair, curves, and expressions translated in the photos. Seeing the beauty in myself without needing to "fix" anything with makeup or special clothing was liberating! I know these portraits will continue to inspire me in my journey to feel comfortable in my own skin, and in turn help other women do the same.” -Kristen

What a joy it was to watch you open up and accept yourself in a brand new way.

I love doing AS I AM sessions for other photographers because I know the ripple effect their journey of self acceptance will have on everyone they photograph… the raw portraits revolution is HERE 🤍

KARA - AS I AM

“Each year has blessed me with an increasingly certain sense of self. I’ve relished in the freeing feeling of knowing and liking who I am, so much so that showing up as anyone else is frankly uncomfortable. I very rarely accept opportunities to be photographed anymore; not because I’m shy or insecure in front of the camera, rather because I’ve often been coached into acting and looking like a stereotype that does not fit me. As a result of the box of assumptions I’ve been put into during those experiences, the photos often portrayed an ultra glamorous, daintily or seductively posed stranger. When Mitzi asked me to sit/squat/buzz about for an “As I Am” session, I trusted the result would be ME and it certainly was. Reviewing the images, I saw glimpses of my grandmother, familiar expressions of my children, and a woman who was comfortable in more than just her body, but in who she is as a person. There I am! Thank you Mitzi for creating a space to celebrate humans as they are.” -Kara Marie

Hey thanks for trusting me and also being a great rule-breaker to look up to 😎

Remind me to tell you about the time I changed yet another belief about my worthiness.

(KM: thank you for the inspiration my friend)

BRITTANY + BRIAN - AS WE ARE

“I booked this photoshoot with the intention of helping my husband see himself as the wonderful gorgeous person I see… not only did we get that, but so much more. I feel grateful to have had this experience with the person I love most but also with the truest version of myself. Thanks Mitzi!” -Brittany

Celebrating love like yours reminds me why I do what I do. Thank you for trusting me, this was an honor.

I love to photograph people who LOVE what they do 💛

my face when you tell me you need to change things about yourself in order to be lovable and I remind you that’s CONDITIONAL love and love by nature is unconditional 🤍

10/10 recommend dancing in your underwear 🤍

——

LUXE PORTRAITS by Mitzi Starkweather
HAIR Tamara Ranae at The Brush and Blade
MAKEUP Esthetician Natalie DeMint

It’s almost SUMMER and we’ve got a handful of shoots available til August 😎

Reach out here and let’s create something wonderful: tinyurl.com/bookashootwithmitzi

Fragile - not like a flower, like a bomb ✨

11 years in business has taught me that THINGS WILL FAIL - like my dress did during these photos - and the choice to embrace the imperfection rather than run and hide from it will be EVERYTHING.

11 years has taught me to embrace it all, and never stop dancing.




🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍

Thank you for trusting me with your portraits - can’t wait to see what this second decade holds.

When your photoshoot feeling words are confident + sexy 🤍

________

HAIR Elijah The Stylist
MAKEUP Tamara Ranae at The Brush and Blade

“I defy any expectation that separates me from my heart, disconnects me from my body, or attempts to cage my soul.” -Mitzi Starkweather

Capturing love like this heals the darker corners of my heart 🤍

Post-elopement portraits in the studio with Anna & Roger

HAIR Tamara Ranae at The Brush and Blade
MAKEUP Esthetician Natalie DeMint

St Avips Ball 2024 🤍

Spiva Center for the Arts
Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex

While creativity and connection are always my priorities, I love efficient photoshoots. When we planned professional headshots and branding photos for this husband/wife architect team, plus portraits of their 2 year old and emotive family portraits, we made the most of our afternoon together and got a stunning variety of imagery.

What portraits can I create for you?

www.mitzistarkweather.com