Photos by Francesca woodman
For me, a self-portrait is never just a photograph. It’s a moment of pausing, turning inward, and asking myself: who am I today? What part of me wants to be seen? Sometimes it feels tender, occasionally bold, and sometimes uncomfortable—but it’s always honest.
When I step in front of the lens, I’m not chasing perfection. I’m holding space for presence, vulnerability, and self-acceptance. It’s a ritual, a way of mapping the inner world through image.
With every self-portrait, I feel I am manifesting something within myself into existence. The act of looking deeply and directly into myself allows something hidden to become realised and come to life. It is a quiet conversation between the inner and outer world — a form of prayer for what is emerging, and at the same time, a gratitude prayer for what already exists in the present moment.
A self-portrait asks me not only to witness myself, but to accept myself as I am while also honouring who I am becoming.
Portraits Through History
Portraiture has always fascinated me. In the past, only kings, queens, and the wealthy could afford to be painted. When photography arrived in the 19th century, it gave everyday people the chance to preserve their presence. Still, there was fear around it—some believed the camera might “steal their soul.” I find that fear so telling—it shows how instinctively people understood the power of the image.
A portrait is never just about appearance. It’s about memory, identity, and the feeling of being seen.
Every time I take my own portrait, I am asking myself: Am I ready to be seen?
The Self as Expression
So many artists—painters, photographers, performers—have turned the camera on themselves as a way of saying, This is me. Think of Francesca Woodman with her ghostly self-portraits, announcing her inability to truly be in this world. A photographer whose raw, shifting images spoke to a sense of not belonging, ever transforming through time and space. These works remind me that self-portraiture can be both deeply personal and boldly political: a mirror, a declaration, sometimes even an act of resistance.
Photography as Self-Discovery
I’ve been inspired by approaches to self-portraiture that explore photography as a path to mindfulness and self-knowledge. By slowing down, noticing, and letting go of judgement, something begins to reveal itself — a simple, honest truth.
For me, photography is less about “capturing” and more about witnessing. It’s about paying attention to what is present, both within ourselves and within the person standing in front of the lens.
The camera becomes not only a tool of observation, but a doorway into awareness.
This exploration is also at the heart of my new Self Portrait Photography Masterclass — a two-part creative journey into self-recognition, embodiment, artistic expression, and inner witnessing. Through guided photographic exercises, reflection, and creative experimentation, participants are invited to explore the camera not simply as a technical tool, but as a mirror for self-discovery and transformation.
Holding Space Through the Lens
Over the years, I’ve worked with women entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and community leaders. In these sessions, the camera has often become a mirror of resilience, creativity, and confidence. With men, I’ve seen how photography can open unexpected doors to vulnerability and self-expression.
What I love most is that moment when, after all the voices of judgement become quiet, someone sees their portrait and says: Ah yes—that feels like me.
That recognition, that deep acceptance, is the real gift.
It is also the gift I continue giving myself through every self-portrait, while moving through the journey of ageing, transformation, and continual becoming.
Self Portrait Photography Masterclass
A Two-Part Journey in Self-Portrait & Self-Recognition
📍 Killaloe, East Clare
📅 Sunday June 14th & Sunday June 28th
🕚 11am – 3pm
