Editorial style portraits for women ready to show real beauty and real confidence

Confident, Modern Portrait Sessions for Women in Silver Spring, MD & the DC Area


You’ve built a life.

A career. A family. A calendar that doesn’t quit.

And somewhere along the way, you stopped seeing yourself the way everyone else does.

Power Portraits are editorial-style portrait sessions designed for women in Silver Spring, Washington, DC, and throughout the DMV who are ready to reconnect with their strength; without pretending to be someone they’re not.

This isn’t about glam.
This isn’t about costumes.
This isn’t about becoming someone new.

This is about showing up as the woman you already are.


This experience is for women who have built full lives, careers, families, and identities, yet rarely give themselves space to step in front of the camera just for themselves.

This is not about pretending to be someone new.
It’s about showing up as you already are, with support, direction, and care.

Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, this portrait experience serves women throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia who want images that feel strong, grounded, and unmistakably them.

What Is a Power Portrait?

A Power Portrait is a modern, editorial-inspired portrait session focused on movement, expression and subtle direction that helps you feel confident in your own skin.

Research shows that posture and body positioning directly affect how we feel. When we stand taller, breathe deeper, and occupy space intentionally, our internal dialogue shifts. Confidence isn’t fixed — it’s something we practice.

That philosophy deeply informs how I guide these sessions.

This isn’t about exaggerated “power poses.”
It’s about moving and expressing.
Being you.
Relaxed strength.

a power portrait session is about presence and not performance

The Power Portrait Experience

Your session is thoughtfully paced so you never feel rushed.

What This Session Feels Like

This isn’t about performance.
It’s not about being louder, younger, or more polished.

It’s about looking at ease with yourself.

Movement.
Stillness.
Soft shadows.
Expression that feels real.

If someone saw your portraits and thought,
“She knows who she is.”
We did it right.

A real conversation first

Before you ever step into the studio, we figure out how to make this session work for you.
You’ll complete a thoughtful pre-session guide where we dig into:

  • How you want to feel in these images

  • What parts of yourself you love

  • What makes you hesitate in photos

Clarity builds confidence before you even arrive.

wardrobe guidance

Bring three looks:
• Something light
• Something dark
• Something bold

No shopping required.
No strict rules.

If it feels like you, it works. (and I’m here to offer advise, suggestions or recommendations!)

Professional Hair and Makeup

You’ll begin with a full professional hair and makeup session with Valerie Hammer Makeup Artistry, designed specifically for this type of photography.
Elevated. Natural. Recognizable.

Makeup should never distract from you.
It should support your presence — not replace it.

Sessions take place in my Silver Spring, MD studio with a calm, private environment where you can settle in.

No rush.
No chaos.
No audience.

Your Soundtrack

We play your music.
The songs you can’t help but move to.
The ones that shift your energy instantly.

This isn’t a silent studio.
It’s your space.

judgement free zone with Guided, Natural Direction

This isn’t about the “right” pose. It’s about shifting, breathing, moving naturally.
The best images happen in the in-between.
You don’t need to know how to be “good in photos.”
You just need to show up.

Feeling nervous and want to bring an emotional support friend? Please! They are welcome. We get how having a trusted cheerleader can make all the difference!

Thoughtful Preparation, Before You Ever Step Into the Studio

A successful editorial portrait session does not begin on the shoot day. It begins with alignment.

As part of the Power Portrait Process, every client completes a detailed pre-session questionnaire designed to understand the tone, energy, and visual direction you are drawn to. This allows us to move beyond surface-level preferences and ensure the session reflects how you want to be seen.

Your Personal Session Guide

After reviewing your questionnaire, you will receive a curated personal session guide outlining how we will approach your shoot.

This guide is designed to make the experience feel clear, calm, and efficient. It walks through:

  • The overall visual direction for your session

  • How we will approach posing and movement

  • Wardrobe guidance

  • What to expect on the day so nothing feels uncertain or rushed

For women who spend most of their time planning for others, this process removes decision fatigue and ensures we are fully aligned before the camera comes out.

Why Power Portraits Feels Different then a Headshot

Headshots are about approachability and professionalism.

Power Portraits are about identity.

Why It Matters


Power Portraits are about more than beautiful images.
They’re about seeing yourself clearly again.
This experience is designed to reconnect you with your strength and presence & to leave you walking away feeling different than when you arrived.

You don’t need a reason.

Wanting to see yourself clearly is enough.

SHARE THE EXPERIENCE

If the idea of doing this alongside someone you trust sounds even better, you can.
Choose to share this journey with a close friend, sister, or partner. Each of you will have your own individual portraits — with an optional few together — in a session intentionally designed to let your connection shine without distraction.

The Instant Reveal

You’ll view your portraits immediately after your session.

No waiting.
No gallery link later.

You’ll choose the images that resonate most while the experience is still fresh.

It keeps the process simple, intentional, and complete.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Power Portraits include elements often associated with glam photography, but the approach is more editorial and restrained. The focus is polish and presence, not excess.

  • The first five minutes? Maybe. After that? Not at all. Most women say it becomes surprisingly freeing.

  • No. This experience isn’t tied to a milestone or a life event. Many clients book simply because they’re ready to do something for themselves. That’s more than enough reason.

  • Bring three looks:
    • Something light
    • Something dark
    • Something bold

    No shopping required.
    No strict rules.

    If it feels like you, it works.

  • Yes. The goal is not to create a version of you that feels unfamiliar. Hair, makeup, lighting, and direction are all designed to enhance what’s already there. Clients often say the images feel like themselves on a really good day.

  • No. Direction is built into the experience. You are guided throughout in a way that feels calm and efficient.

  • Yes. This experience can be booked as a shared session for two women who want to do it together. You’ll each have your own individual portraits, with the option to include a few images together. Shared sessions are limited and scheduled intentionally.

  • Sessions take place in my studio in Silver Spring, Maryland, easily accessible from Washington, DC, Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville, Potomac and Northern Virginia.

  • This experience is offered on weekdays only. That keeps the process unhurried and allows for the full hair, makeup, and portrait flow without feeling rushed.ption

  • Hair and makeup takes about 2 hours and the portrait session is about 45 min - 1 hour. Then we’ll spend about an hour going through the final images! So about 4 hours total. Everything is at 1 location.

  • Both. Clients use these images for personal milestones, branding, and moments where they want to be represented at a high level.

Location Details

Sessions take place in Silver Spring, MD, conveniently located near Washington, DC, Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville, Potomac and Northern Virginia, with easy access from I-495 and the ICC.
Hair, makeup and the photoshoot are all at one location, so you just need to show up!
This experience is offered on weekdays only to keep it intentional and not rushed.

Investment

This is a premium, all-inclusive portrait experience that combines professional makeup artistry and private studio photography.
Includes full hair and makeup (~2 hrs per person) and Val stays onsite for touchups along the way (and doubles as the best hype woman)

Session Fee: $1,245 (2 people $1575)
$650 applied toward artwork

Most clients invest between $2,000–$4,000.

Portraits are preserved through:

  • Printed Leather bound Storybook (handmade in Italy)

  • 9-Up Wall Statement

  • Portrait Folio

  • Digital collections available

Art work pricing

LIMITED TIME PROMOTION RATE

Ready to Step In Front of the Camera?

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is it.

Not because everything is perfect.
But because you are.

Reach out to reserve your session or ask questions. I’m happy to walk you through what to expect and help you decide if this experience is the right fit.

Let's Do This