Samala Khan Beautiful Portrait Headshots

I am thrilled to have Samala as one of my long-term clients here at Depiction Portraits. Over the past 12 years, I've had the pleasure of capturing some truly unforgettable moments for her and her family. So, when she told me that she wanted to have a self-portrait taken as part of our upcoming 40-over-40 portrait session, I couldn't have been more excited to have her in my Smithsburg Studio!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

-Gandhi

Samala is such an amazing woman with so many unique qualities that make her stand out from everyone else. And now, thanks to this session, we'll be able to showcase those qualities in a way that's truly beautiful and inspiring. It's always an honor to work with someone who values life and loves to connect with people- especially when they're one of my own cherished clients!

In response to a question about the best thing about being over 40, she replied. “Having a better sense of who I am and being comfortable in my skin.”

“Having a better sense of who I am and being comfortable in my skin.”

-Samala Khan

Being comfortable in your own skin means accepting yourself just the way you are - flaws included - knowing that you're beautiful. People over 40 have gone through enough ups and downs to realize that life is too short to spend time trying to please everyone else or conforming to someone else's standards. Instead, they can focus on doing things they enjoy and spending time with people who truly matter; those who accept them for who they are without judgment or criticism. So yes, having a sense of who you are and being comfortable in your skin is undoubtedly one of the best things about getting older!

In our portrait session of 40 over 40, I asked Samala what she would tell her younger self. She said,

“As for being a mom, I would tell my younger self to just take more time for myself and that the to-do list will never end. And to look for an end is probably, you know, it's never going to happen. So, it's even more important to take time for yourself and that life will still go on and the things to do will continue to be endless. But it doesn't mean that you can’t take time for yourself. This is one of the reasons why I did this for myself, so I wouldn't have to be running around with little kids, making sure that they're posing properly, that I could just focus on myself, which I haven't had a photo shoot with just me in almost 15 years.”

As a busy mom herself, Samala recognized the importance of self-care and how easy it is to overlook it when we're caught up in our daily routines. It was clear that this photo shoot was not only about capturing beautiful images but also about reclaiming a piece of herself that had been neglected for far too long.

“The reason I'm here is mainly due to Diana. She has taken many wonderful family portraits, maternity shots, and baby photos for us over the past 12 years.”

-Samala Khan

Samala's decision to participate in the 40-over-40 portrait session was mainly influenced by her longstanding relationship with Diana, who has taken numerous stunning family portraits, maternity, and baby photos for her over the past 12 years. Her trust in Diana was instantly confirmed, and she appreciated how clear she was about what to expect from the photo shoot. Furthermore, Diana was open to using any interesting ideas that Samala had as a starting point while also providing additional input of her own. This created an exciting and collaborative atmosphere that fostered Samala's creativity - which she valued greatly.

“First of all, the reason I’m here is because of Diana. And she's taken the most beautiful family portraits and maternity shots and baby shots for my family for the past twelve years. And I knew that I would be in good hands. Number one reason. And I felt completely secure during the photo shoot. As always, her instructions were clear before the shoot. And I knew that if I came with her, with some of my ideas, she would be not only receptive to the but use them as jumping-off points to even give more ideas as to what we could do. And I really like that. I really like working with someone where it's a collaborative process and not just a one-sided experience. It’s nice to have someone because I like to be creative, and I know Diana is very creative, and I like bouncing off ideas with her. And I can tell it's fun for her, it's fun for me. So, it's just a great overall experience.”

When Samala asked what she would do with the photos, she replied that she would use them to remember that this is just the beginning, that from this point on, there is a lot of life to be lived, and that every day is a new day filled with possibilities. It's important to remember that, even though you've passed certain milestones, that does not mean certain things in your life have to come to an end. It is often a new beginning.

Samala's gorgeous headshots from 40 over 40 portrait photography

“I hope to use the photos to remind myself that this is just the beginning, that from this point on, I think there's a lot of life to be lived, and it'll be a reminder that every day is a new day and is filled with opportunity. And just because you're past a certain milestone, it doesn't mean that certain things in your life must come to an end. It can be very much the beginning.”

Take a look behind the scenes of Samala's Photoshoot Day

Be sure to click the link below and be part of the 40-over-40 portrait session showcasing amazing women. Share your unique story and have an amazing photo shoot experience.

Click here to Book your Portrait Photography

All the best,

Diana