Intimate Portraits

This is what human emotion looks like. Regret, remorse, realization. 

I knew I had to capture this moment when I confronted the man I love after he cheated on me. I had to see this through my camera. 

Our minds are so quick to turn something into something else. It is easy to forget moments like these. It is easy to tell ourselves, "it isn't as bad as I initially thought." For that reason, I had to capture the moment that he faced the truth of his actions. 

With tears running down my face and hands trembling, I caught the most honest images I have ever made. 

At the time I had no idea that this concept would evolve.

Sitting at a Cuban bar in Puerto Vallarta, I met a rambunctious photographer named Raul. Between the live band and the smell of cigars, we shared our passion and our work. He told me his story and I told him mine. He asked if he could photograph me and I eagerly agreed. The day of the shoot, just a few days before I returned to Seattle, I woke up feeling very raw. I had no interest in being around anyone and considered cancelling the shoot.

On some level, I knew this was important. In preparation for the shoot Raul asked me to show up as my authentic self. I thought, "well, I guess this is my authentic self."

When he arrived, I was emotional, hungry, and a little irritated. He began,

"Tell me about your relationship."

With those words frustration dissolved into tears, tears into sadness, sadness into presence. When he left I went to the pool and sat reflecting. I had never been witnessed so intimately. I was proud that I had allowed myself to be seen imperfectly. I knew the experience was part of my healing.

My first week back in Seattle was disorienting. I was home, but I was also mourning the loss of my relationship. I wanted to see my pain, a tangible reflection of what I was feeling.

I wanted to see what could happen for people if they were witnessed by my camera. I put a quick shout out on instagram with the hope that a couple of people would have an interest. The response was far more than I had anticipated.

Over the last month, I had the privilege to photograph 13 beautiful, brave individuals. Allow me to introduce The Intimate Portrait Series. To see the full collection of these images, join us at the Ballard Art Walk April 13th from 6 - 9pm at Kula Movement.

In my last post I said it was time to bring my heart to my work. This project will be continued and broadened by Be Witnessed Weekend Retreats hosted by OnixBloom in Mexico.

If you are interested in an Intimate Portrait Session please email me at sorellaphotos@gmail.com

I have limited availability in Seattle through June.

With much gratitude, thank you for reading.