For awhile now, I have had the desire to get a photoshoot done in my neighborhood. I’ve seen many engagement and wedding photos taken in the main square and since moving here I always thought how amazing it would be to take my own engagement photos there.

But ya girl is as single as they come and it doesn’t look like that is changing any time soon. But why only take photos when you have a big life event or celebration? Why not just take nice photos because you want to?

So a few months ago I made the decision to get a photoshoot done in my neighborhood to celebrate this stage of my life, turning 30, and just because I wanted to. And a few weeks ago, it finally took place.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this. I always love when someone is able to take a good photo of me, but sometimes I feel super self conscious or picky or even a little conceited wanting a good photo of myself. I was worried it would be awkward posing for photos, especially outside and in public. But honestly, it was just a really amazing experience.

I give all the credit to my amazing photographer, Kamila, from We Speak Fireworks. She made me feel so comfortable and her editing and photography style were exactly what I wanted.

I just got my photos back today, and wow. I don’t think I have ever loved photos of myself quite this much. It completely represents me at this moment in time and is everything I could have ever hoped for. The woman in these photos are a glimpse into the very person I could have only dreamed of becoming at 30 years old.

I am not perfect. By any means. Physically, I could point out flaws in some of these photos. And personally and emotionally, I am a continual work in progress. But I love every bit of what these photos depict and every bit of the person I’ve been becoming.

The woman in these photos is hot. She is confident. She knows who she is and what she wants. She loves this city that has attached itself to her. She loves everything this place and stage of her life have required her to become.

I feel like too often people will caution against romanticizing your life. Particularly if you are single and one day wanting to be in a relationship. I get it. It’s a cautionary tale about not getting your hopes up or creating standards that are unrealistic.

But as a self proclaimed hopeless romantic and newly self proclaimed dreamer, I say this is bullshit. Why shouldn’t you romanticize this life? Is it always happy and perfect? Fuck no. This last year of my life was one of the hardest mentally and emotionally I have ever had to face. And yet here I am. Still hopeful. Still dreaming. Still here.

This is the only life we get. And whether I spend that with a life partner or I spend it “alone” I’m choosing to love as much of it as I can. So yes, I romanticize my life. These photos probably prove that. But a past version of myself may have never believed she’d grow up to be who I am today. And that alone is worth romanticizing my life every chance I get. I’m a dreamer, I’m a poet, I’m a writer, I’m a feeler, I’m a romantic, and I am not ashamed of any of it. Not anymore.

While I am still self conscious about owning so many photos of myself and I’m not quite sure what I will do with them just yet, I hope that if nothing else I will use them not only as a reminder of this moment in my life, but also of everything they represent. Whenever I doubt myself and this journey of life I am on, I hope these photos and everything they emulate reminds of the person I am deep down. No matter how much I lose myself, she will always be a part of me.

So, without further ado, see below for a sneak peak of my photos. I hope they bring out even more of my personality than my blog posts and poetry have so you can get to know me even better.