Athletes+Sports
Teens+Tweens
Seniors
Every year when Project Beauty sessions begin, there’s a reaction from my Rep Team members I’ve come to expect.
There is hesitation and discomfort in the air. I don’t know exactly how to describe it… maybe uncertainty?
I just know girls who normally walk confidently into sessions are more quiet and moms who encourage their daughters every day start questioning what they themselves must look like without even a little concealer.
Look, I get it. Project Beauty asks them to do something that feels deeply unnatural in today’s world: to show up completely as they are.
No makeup.
No carefully curated version of themselves.
And from me, no beauty retouching of the photos afterward.
That kind of vulnerability is hard, especially for women living in a culture that teaches them that their natural face is somehow a “before.”
The Heart Behind Project Beauty Photography
Project Beauty exists alongside my regular portrait work, not in opposition to it.
In our normal portrait sessions, we celebrate artistry and creativity. We do hair and makeup. We style outfits and create images that are polished and beautiful. Even my editing style is intentional — removing temporary blemishes, smoothing distractions, correcting awkward posing moments is all part of the retouching — so while I still make sure the girls look like themselves, I DO work on the images.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel glamorous. My session experience is all about making my clients feel like stars. It’s meant to be fun, confidence bulding bonding experience for my families.
But Project Beauty asks a different question: Who are you before all of that?
Before the mascara or the editing.
Before the world starts telling you what parts of you need fixing.
Tackling that question feels uncomfortable for a lot of people because women today are in an environment where altered images are so normal that true authenticity can actually feel “less than.” They have absorbed the message that beauty is something they achieve after correction.
That’s a lie. Of course it is. I started doing Project Beauty shoots because I didn’t want to be complicit in the lie.
They know how to take the flattering angle. I TEACH them posing in my sessions.
They know the filters. I’ve already admitted I hand polish every image that I deliver.
They know how to hide “imperfections” before anyone else can see them. And in my regular sessions, I help them.
Project Beauty pushes back against that narrative. The experience and their images show them proof that there is beauty in our imperfections.
When they walk into Project Beauty completely barefaced, they feel vulnerable and exposed.
They leave realizing they were never lacking in the first place.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
One of my favorite Bible verses always comes to mind during Project Beauty sessions. Psalm 139:14 says: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
I think that truth matters deeply for girls today.
While the world constantly tells us we need to become “better” before we are worthy of being seen, I know God already sees us fully as we are.
Not filtered, not edited, not perfected for approval.
And this is how He asks us to come to Him: Imperfect, vulnerable, messy, unfinished.
But that doesn’t mean He leaves us there.
When we let Him, God changes us, grows us, and refines us over time as we become more like Jesus. His love is not something we earn once we finally “fix” ourselves first.
We are image bearers of God, created intentionally and with purpose. That means our worth does not come from beauty trends, flawless skin, or validating “likes” from strangers online.
Our worth comes from the One who created us.
Project Beauty challenges the girls and moms alike to think intentionally about the fact that they do not have to polish up to earn value.
They are already valuable.
They are already worthy.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made, even with our imperfections… and loved far too much to be left unchanged.
The change God wants in us isn’t about appearance. It’s more about an inner transformation where we learn to value truth over comparison, but that growth can begin with our willingness to be seen unedited and unfiltered.
That is the purpose of Project Beauty — learning that what is real is not something to hide, but something God can use to build confidence, identity, and freedom from the inside out.
We are made in His image.
Team 2026 Project Beauty Representatives
This year, our Team 2026 representatives each chose a Conscious Ink temporary tattoo with words that meant something personal to them. The tattoos became quiet reminders throughout the session — little truths they wanted to carry with them about identity, courage, strength, and self-worth.
Aubrey
Tattoo Message: “You are Stronger than You Know”
As a decorated athlete, Aubrey understands that confidence isn’t always something you naturally feel — sometimes it’s something you choose to believe anyway. Her tattoo felt like a quiet reminder that courage and strength often begin with the words we tell ourselves, even before we fully believe them.
Her thoughts on true beauty reflected that same authenticity and confidence:
“To me, true beauty isn’t about perfect skin, makeup, or looking like people online. It’s when someone is kind, confident, honest, and comfortable being themselves. A girl who laughs freely, treats people well, works hard for her goals, and stays real. That kind of beauty lasts much longer than appearance. Looks can catch attention, but personality, heart, and the way someone makes others feel are what people truly remember.”
A note from Aubrey’s mom:
“True beauty comes from within and is revealed through how a person makes others feel. It’s not about appearance, but about the kindness, compassion, and positivity someone shares with the world. Whether it’s offering encouragement, giving a genuine compliment, speaking kind words, or simply showing small acts of kindness, these everyday actions reflect a truly beautiful person. True beauty shines through empathy, generosity, and the ability to lift others up. It is something that is consistently shown in how someone treats others, leaving a lasting and meaningful impact far beyond what can be seen on the surface.”
Sloan
Tattoo Message: “Be Still” — a shortened reminder of Psalm 46 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Another of my favorite verses… it’s true that life can be hectic and chaotic and stressful, but the Lord promises that we can find rest in Him.
It’s no surprise that Sloan’s thoughts on true beauty reflected that same grounding in faith:
“True beauty, to me, is more than just physical appearance because it comes from a person’s heart, character, and faith. It is shown through kindness, honesty, compassion, and the way someone treats others even when no one is watching. Faith adds to true beauty because it gives people strength, humility, and love that can shine through their actions and words. Someone who trusts in God and lives with grace and purpose often reflects a beauty that goes far beyond looks. True beauty is being authentic, caring for others, and carrying yourself with confidence and faith, because those qualities last much longer than outward appearance.”
A note from Sloan’s mom:
“Imperfection: a state of being flawed, incomplete, or less than perfect. Project Beauty was a chance to throw out the concealer, foundation, false eyelashes and countless other things we find ourselves using to make ourselves more ‘perfect’ as we easily struggle with our personal flaws, comparing ourselves to others. It gave us the opportunity to take off all of the products and throw them to the side. True beauty comes from the sparkle in our eyes, the confidence in our smile, the values that we carry and express to others. For God reminds us in Song of Solomon 4:7‘you are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. Beauty, what a thing to behold.’ “
Emily
Tattoo Message: “Be Not Afraid.”
Emily’s tattoo was a reminder that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s choosing to walk forward anyway. In a world that constantly pressures girls to compare themselves, hide imperfections, or seek approval, her message reflected the quiet confidence that comes from being secure in who you are and treating others with kindness:
“Beauty to me is being genuine, kind, and confident in who you are. It’s not about looking perfect — it’s about the way someone treats others, carries themselves, and shows compassion. True beauty comes from authenticity, strength, and the ability to make people feel valued and loved. I believe the most beautiful people are the ones who stay true to themselves and bring light into other people’s lives.”
Why Project Beauty Matters
Photography is my ministry. Underneath all the conversations we have about makeup, editing, and beauty standards is something much deeper:
I think girls deserve to stand in front of my camera exactly as they are and discover they are worthy of being seen and celebrated. With AND without makeup, they are beautiful.
Not because they perfected themselves first or we hid every flaw.
Just because they exist.
They are fearfully and wonderfully made, image bearers of a God who sees them fully and loves them completely.
That has always been the heart behind Project Beauty.
In a world constantly trying to convince girls to become less real, I think authenticity has become its own kind of courage.
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