Tam is one of the most beautiful souls that I have ever met. Not only because she shaved her thick, glossy and over 15-inch-long hair for charitable causes but also how courageous she is on her own healing journey throughout the years. How brave, kind-hearted and inspiring she is.

The session is about acceptance. It requires more than courage to be fully at ease with our true self. Perhaps because it was the third time Tam had a session at my studio, the shooting went naturally as though we were enjoying a hot cup of tea together. Taking a sip, sharing some stories, we fell into an absolute meditation to reflect our mind. It was in this holy silence that Tam touched the deepest part of her heart. At that most vulnerable moment, I cried too. The most touching session that so far, I luckily have ever had. The way she accepted herself inside out brought tears to my eyes while my shutter camera clicks.

And this is what I call a genuine and authentic portrait photo which I believe has the capability to speak out the emotion, whether it is joyful, solitude or even a heartache. It holds the gaze of viewers long enough to question the characters in the photo. What are they thinking? What have they gone through to have such a pondering glance?

/ Shot at La Lune studio / May 2021