I became a mom at the young age of 19 to a baby boy. Life changed forever that day! For the better of course but also it changed me in ways that I didn't even know until I was in my late 40's.

You see when I became a mom I turned off Sheila the young lady and just focused on being a mom.

My young mom life wasn't easy. I didn't know what I was doing so I just tried my best to be the best at being a mommy.

I lost my second baby at 19.5 wks a week before I turned 21 and never looked at him and have always regretted it.   Life was hard.  I was with a man who didn't love me or want me in his life, and he let me know daily that I wasn't loved or worthy of affection so I left after listening to that for a year. 

I spent the next 5 years in and out of court fighting for custody of my first child.

By this point I had another little boy too. I was heading toward a second marriage trying to make a loving home for my boys.

I was a people pleaser and always wanting to do the right thing. So for the second time I married because it was the right thing to do. 

And for the second time I was empty and not happy. I suffered from panic and anxiety.

I had three more children who filled my heart with love and I poured myself into their lives.

 I started my photography business in 2006 and it made my panic and anxiety almost disappear.

I specialized in Newborns and Weddings.

One of the reasons behind my romantic Wedding photography was the desire for that kind of love in my own life.

With the loss of my own baby I realize how important it is to capture our sweet babies in their early days because of the precious miracle they are thus my specializing in newborns. The peace I have while photographing them is something I haven't really experienced anywhere else in my lfie.

I was 39 when I left my second marriage. I realized I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in a way that I would regret.

My then husband said to me that I was like a butterfly coming out of my cocoon. It was the start of a long long journey toward self love.

I continued on my wayward path of self discovery and found myself in another relationship where I was not spoken to nicely at all. Why did I continue to do this to myself?

In early 2018 he ended the relationship and it was a true blessing. I was heartbroken but realized that it was time for me to love me and respect me.

I started to read books and join groups that were focused on self love.

One day in September of 2018 I declared on social media that I finally felt beautiful and was starting to really love myself. An incredible man walked into my life that day. One who treats me with love and respect and the way I should be treated.

We as women often forget ourselves on this journey in life. Always putting others before ourselves.

We are so important and need to be seen and heard and acknowledged.

Sometimes it takes just seeing ourselves through the eyes of someone else.

I want to be those eyes. 

I want to take the most beautiful portrait you have ever seen of yourself. I want to help you on your journey of self love. I want to celebrate how far you have come, or be one of the stepping stones on your new journey. 

I want us to show our daughters and nieces and granddaughters how we as women matter. That we are seen and celebrated.

Would you like to start that journey today?