I have been photographing people for years. People who are beautiful, original, one of a kind.
Where do I find them? Nowhere. The world is full of them — they come to my studio every day.
Most often, they don’t even realise that this is who they are: unique and original.

Self-acceptance.

This topic has been on my mind a lot lately, because in my work portraying people, I all too often hear what they say about — and to — themselves. And those aren’t kind things.
Excessive self-criticism is a poisonous, hurtful, and wounding cluster of words.

It often happens that when looking at the same portrait, the person portrayed and I have completely different impressions. We draw different conclusions and focus on different things.
I look objectively — though of course not completely. I, too, have my own beliefs and mental scripts that shape how I see the world. But I do work on neutrality. Most importantly, I maintain a certain distance — above all mental — from the person I’m photographing. From that perspective, you can see more.
Usually, if we’re accompanied by others, they also take a more objective view.
The person being portrayed, on the other hand, sees themselves through so many subjective layers that they can’t always reach the real “I”.

So many inherited perceptions influence the way we see ourselves.

Ingrained beliefs:
The filters through which we observe ourselves are usually made up of expectations and overlays given to us by our environment — upbringing, culture, religion.
Covered in all these layers, we often don’t even realise they’re artificial constructs we were placed into without consent or awareness.

Self-feeling:
Fatigue, illness, sleeplessness, or a bad mood will distort our self-image. Poor well-being doesn’t always manifest in our physical appearance — but it always shows up on our face.

Physical condition:
It’s hard to feel good in a sedentary lifestyle — no movement, lots of computer work, and “resting” while scrolling on the phone. Running between work, school, home, and errands doesn’t count.
That’s not rest or mindful movement. It’s just a chase.
It’s hard to feel good without deep breathing, the calming influence of nature, or movement (including sport) tailored to our needs.
The body dances with emotions — the way we treat it will directly affect how we feel emotionally and mentally.

Emotions:
Stress, frustration, anxiety, low self-esteem, dissatisfaction — whatever we feel, it shows. In body language, posture, expression.
I see these emotions. They appear in how a body holds itself, in tension or ease, in facing the lens — or unconsciously turning away from it.

External conditions beyond our control:

Light — who hasn’t panicked at the sight of themselves in shop fitting-room lighting? Light can tell beautiful stories, but it can also tear down our illusions with one harsh midday beam.

Mirrors — did you know the image you see in the mirror is false? That’s right — it’s a mirrored image. You see yourself in fragments, usually from above, which distorts the perception of your proportions.

Asymmetry — it’s natural. Human bodies and faces aren’t symmetrical, even on a genetic level.
Interestingly, when we look at others, we rarely notice differences between the two sides of a face. We perceive harmony. But when looking at ourselves — especially in a still image — we spot every unevenness.
To me, asymmetry adds character. It speaks of experience, emotion, and life. In a way, it’s a living diary — and incredibly inspiring.
Symmetry? That only exists in mannequins.

You are photogenic — even if you don’t believe it.

But what if — even just for a moment — you could neutralise all those overlays and beliefs and see yourself differently?
Would becoming aware of how many things have stuck to you give you a chance to look at yourself more gently?

That’s why I’ve created a workshop. A one-hour, practical lecture before any photo shoot — designed to help you:

– feel freer in front of the lens,
– connect with your body — maybe even start communicating with it,
– understand what “photogenic” and “asymmetrical” really mean,
– use your natural strengths,
– let go of fear and discomfort around being photographed.

And maybe much more will happen. A lot is in your hands. How much you take in, how much stays with you after our meeting — that’s mostly up to you.

I’m an idealist. At first, I thought that workshops like this would magically wipe out the wave of blind self-criticism.
Now I know it’s rarely that simple. Often, there are too many layers to peel back — too many wounds to heal.
But I still hope to plant a micro-seed. One that might germinate someday and spark a change in the way you see yourself.

Sounds like a mission 🙂

The workshop programme “See yourself differently. How to feel comfortable in your own skin and like yourself in photos?” can be found HERE.

You can experience this Extraordinary Hour of Power before any portrait session with me.

It will also make a great gift for a loved one. You can find the VOUCHER HERE.

There is another VOUCHER available as a gift for a loved one: a combination of this workshop and an ART portrait session. You will find the details HERE.

POWER SPEECH ! (in Polish) In October 2024, I had the opportunity to give an hour-long talk on this topic at the Women’s Development Academy at the Atrion Business Centre in Tychy. And I am eager for more!
So remember that this topic can exist at meetings, conferences, in the form of an inspiring, practical lecture. Do you know someone who organises such events and might be interested? Connect us!

My programme is also part of a co-operative with psychologist Dawid Haracz. We combined our knowledge and expertise and created a full-day workshop for an intimate group entitled:
“How to feel good about yourself? A workshop on acceptance, self-esteem and self-confidence”.
!! Only in Polish.
Have a look HERE and see what we have prepared.

We will announce further dates, but we would also be happy to host such a workshop at the invitation of an institution, company or association.

You can find the texts in the series What about self-acceptance? in “with a kind eye” category.

The photographs are from my authors’ series Beautiful People. Beautiful because diverse, unique, one of a kind. You can find the series HERE.