What 2 Years of Photographing 100 Women Taught Me About Being Seen
For the past two years, I’ve been immersed in The Common Thread, a project photographing 100 women to explore the shared experience of womanhood.
People often assume that because it’s a fine art project, every session was long and meandering. The truth is, the photography sessions themselves were often quite quick. I learned to get to the heart of things rapidly.
How? By taking control.
I found that the fastest way to calm nerves was to immediately guide the pose. When I took charge of the shoulders, the hands, the angle of the chin, something magical happened: my sitters felt instantly safe. They realized they didn’t need to figure it out. They were in good hands. By showing them in real-time how a tiny shift changes the tone of a portrait, we built trust immediately.
But there was a catch. While the photography was efficient, my desire to listen often outpaced the clock. I found myself wanting to hear their stories long after the shutter had stopped. The constraints of the project meant I couldn’t always give that space. So, I added a videography component – simply to ensure they had a place to be heard.
That tension – between the efficiency of the shoot and the need for deep connection – taught me everything I now bring to Waschevski Portraits.
The Evolution to “Unrushed” In my new Basin Pocket studio, I’ve removed the clock entirely.
- Posing as Safety: I still start by taking control. My job is to guide the posture and energy so you don’t have to perform. You show up; I take care of the rest.
- Space to Be Heard: Because I limit my studio to one session per day, there is no rush. Whether we need 45 minutes or several hours, we stay until you’ve relaxed, trusted the process, and allowed yourself to be truly seen.
- The Result: Portraits that aren’t just “good images,” but honest reflections of who you are right now.
A Note on Readiness This work is best suited for those folk who are ready to engage with their authentic identity. It requires a willingness to drop the performance, even just for a moment.
Important: While my process is deeply psychological and rooted in creating safety, I am not a counsellor or therapist. This is a portrait session, not a therapy session. My role is to reveal your presence through the lens, not to resolve deep-seated emotional trauma or provide clinical support.
If your goal right now is to hide, fix, or fundamentally change your appearance to match an external ideal, we might not be the right fit. My strength lies in guiding people to themselves. I cannot do the work for those who are not yet ready to look in the mirror. But for those who are? The results are transformative.
Stability Over Trends In a world of quick fixes, I am choosing stability. Whether you are a female founder, a creative, or a leader navigating a transition, my goal is simple: to create a visual anchor that feels like you.
This is the heart of Waschevski Portraits. The same psychological safety I honed with 100 women, now available for you. No rushing. No scripts. Just the space to be seen.
