I used to think people just wanted a product. That if I could just show them the polished, professional end result—the crisp photo, the perfectly retouched image—they’d be sold. That’s what we’re told, right? Keep it clean. Keep it professional. Don’t show too much. Stay behind the scenes.

But I had it all wrong.

NYC-based female Photographer MFFPHOTOGRAPHY photographed behind the scenes while working with models in studio.

Turns out, people did want to see me. They wanted to know who I was, what moved me, how I got here. They weren’t just buying a service—they were investing in the energy behind it. And when they connected with that energy, when they saw me, they felt safe enough to say yes.

I’ll never forget when my therapist said to me, “Your vulnerability isn’t a weakness. It’s your power.” That landed deep.

From the moment I first held a camera, something shifted. It was never just about snapping pictures. It was about seeing. Capturing emotion. Telling the truth through light, shadow, and feeling. But for the longest time, I didn’t realize that part of that truth had to include me.

The creative world—especially photography and modeling—can often feel like a performance. We’re taught to curate, edit, and only show the final product. But something magical happens when we drop the act and let people into the process. Into the person behind the lens.

That’s when things started to change for me.

I began sharing pieces of my story, my process, my why. I showed up—not just as a business, but as a human being. I spoke about what inspired me, what challenged me, what healed me. And slowly, people responded. They saw themselves in my story. They trusted me with theirs.

There’s a certain kind of magic in being seen.

Now I believe more than ever that authenticity isn’t a buzzword—it’s the bridge between you and the people who are meant to find you. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be polished all the time. You just have to be real. People feel that. People want that.

So if you’re a creator, an artist, a storyteller of any kind, and you’re wondering whether it’s “too much” to show your face, share your voice, or open up a little—let this be your sign.

Your presence is your power.

Your vulnerability is your strength.

Your story is your signature.

Show up. Speak up. Be seen.

It’s what makes your work unforgettable.

MFFPHOTOGRAPHY

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Posts tagged with showing-up-online

I Had It All Wrong: The Power of Presence and Vulnerability in Creative Work