My hubby and I turned 40 this year and the plan was always to go on a tropical vacation. Just think, sitting next to a pool at an amazing resort in Mexico or Jamaica, chillin’, not working…you know, celebrating!
But we didn’t feel comfortable traveling during Covid times this past January. So we made the most of it. We celebrated with friends, family and I did something a little out of my comfort zone…a photo shoot.
Getting out of my comfort zone
I mean, I’ve worked with the amazing CB Yates Photo in the past for my branding sessions. Just having some great headshots has helped me promote my business on Instagram and for my website. But this photo shoot is a bit different. I wanted to capture my 40th birthday with some sass and class. I wanted to have photos to look back on when I’m 80 years old and be like, damn…40 looked good on me.

Isn’t that what we all want?
So I did it. With some convincing from Cara and my friend, Brooke…I did it. And boy, was it fun. I found (my friend Brooke found) this amazing skirt from Rent the Runway. I then found this shirt from Amazon (because you know, last minute) to go with it. Add in a pair of shoes from a wedding I had in the closet, some makeup professionally done and balloons…boom. The shoot happened.

Cara had the entire setup ready to go when I got there and was blaring some Gwen Stefani music as requested. Talk about a host and a fun host who made me laugh, made me feel comfortable and created these amazing photos to cherish.

I branded these as my “anti-Over the Hill” photos. I mean, I remember going to my parent’s 40th birthday parties. It was all Over the Hill old people stuff. Old people pills (candy), gravestone things, black everything. I think times have changed a bit and this captured that for me.

What would they think?
I did something for myself. I did something that had me questioning in my head “what will they think?”. And finally I had to tell that voice to shut it and they don’t care (whoever they are). Being 40 is all about being confident in who you are…who you have become. I think these sum that up for me.
