Photography sessions that wholeheartedly celebrate authenticity, strength, wisdom and beauty enable people to unapologetically reflect into a photo-based mirror mage without wincing or feeling self-conscious. Those magical kinds of sessions are exactly the genuine, easy-going type in which a St. Louis photography couple specializes through their Empowering Portraits business.
Danijela and Yagil Kadera love taking "real" photos of individuals, couples and women 40-plus years young. But they also relish capturing unique bonds and unconditional love shared between pets and their peeps.
"We specialize in simplistic, artistic portraits all about empowering women to embrace self-love and their beauty. We also enjoy and photograph all pets, all breeds, all sizes," explains Danijela.
Yagil says their portrait experiences are all about clients. "From understanding your unique portrait needs to planning and styling, sessions result in powerful moments and portraits to love and cherish beyond a lifetime."
Overall, this dynamic duo categorizes their client photo sessions as personal branding, enchanting portraits, women empowerment, sophisticated boudoir, generational legacies and love sessions for couples.
Creating captivating moments is what separates cute snapshots from timeless portraits, reminds Dani. "A professional portrait photographer captures your life with a touch of artistry. Your life and your story is unique and deserves to be cherished, with each picture speaking a thousand words. Many people think they aren't photogenic, but they actually are," she says.
Their services include a wardrobe fitting prior to the photo session, then hair and makeup assistance, along with refreshments and a session music playlist based on each client's preferences.
"We laugh, chat, dance, play dress up, share and sometimes cry our way through sessions. Everyone has such fun, and gains so much confidence, they can't believe they just completed photos," affirms Dani.
Through various levels of images, she says their goal is to capture the "casual, powerful, glamorous and sensual" versions of clients. "Oftentimes, women discover they love a version of themselves that they used to be, not who they are presently. We bring out the worthiness of who they've become, plus their accumulated inner and outer beauty, and we're proud of the self-love we can help revive."
This year, Dani says they've been expanding the personal branding and couples sessions. "It's wonderful to see couples finally be present in the moment with each other."
On to 40 Over 40: This project is one for which Dani is particularly proud. In 2022, she made it a mission to photograph 40 women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, via a transformational and empowering experience focused on celebration and self-love. And she did. The images were captured in an inspiring presentation that emphasized body positivity and embraced the concepts of aging. She received so many more requests, she completed another round of women's portraits during spring 2023. She says the 2024 project also is complete, and she's already planning the round for 2025.
In fact, an exhibition and celebration party regarding the 2024 40 Over 40 participants will be held Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at The Schlafly Tap Room – Club Room. For event details, email info@empoweringportraits.com.
"For 40 Over 40 sessions, women let go of self-doubts and reasons why they didn't see themselves as worthy and beautiful. I relate to all this, being over 40 myself. However, women of all ages, and all wonderful shapes and sizes, are uniquely beautiful and deserve to be acknowledged, seen and celebrated. That's a part of my job I absolutely love," proclaims Dani.