When I asked Kathleen what experience had shaped her into the woman she is today, she replied, “I can’t point to a specific thing, because all the things have shaped who I am.”
She explained that while her prophylactic double mastectomy with aesthetic flat closure in December 2025 has certainly been significant, she doesn’t want it to become the defining chapter of her life.
“The trauma doesn’t get to take more credit than the beauty in who I am today.”
I think that’s Kathleen in a nutshell. She doesn’t ignore the difficult parts of life, but she also refuses to let them become the whole story.
An artist, a mom, a self-described cat mom to three cats, Kathleen approaches life with curiosity, creativity, and a healthy sense of humor. She also describes herself as being in her “Woman of a Certain Age” era, where she’s embraced what she jokingly calls her “Give No F*cks” phase.
When she applied for the 30 Over 30: Proof of Her project, it wasn’t because she wanted to prove anything. She wanted to reconnect with the body she now calls home.
“I felt it would be a wonderful way to reconnect with this new body I now inhabit and feel the beauty in her through all her changes.”
One belief she’s intentionally leaving behind is the idea that happiness has to be earned.
“I used to believe that I needed to do something to deserve happiness.”
Now, when asked what she’s most proud of in this season of life, her answer is simple: “Being happy.”
Before her session, Kathleen told me she hoped her portraits would surprise her. She’d even talked about it with her therapist.
“I was hoping to feel connection, wholeness, with a sprinkle of something I hadn’t thought of.”
Afterward, when I asked how the experience went, her answer was straightforward: “Amazing!”
The part that stayed with her most wasn’t just seeing the finished images, although she loved those too. It was experiencing her body differently.
“Really leaning into my body and how it moves and shapes.”
That perspective feels especially meaningful after surgery. Rather than focusing on what had changed, she spent the session discovering what was still there.
“I loved my experience and would like to do it whenever I’m feeling a little wobbly about my personal confidence.”
And if another woman told her she was waiting until she felt more confident, more ready, or had finally lost the weight?
Kathleen would tell them, “You don’t have to share these pictures with anyone. You can experience the experience and carry it in your heart like a delicious little treasure that is yours alone. Meet yourself where you’re at and do something that is just for you.”
I love that perspective because it shifts the conversation away from the photos themselves.
Sometimes the experience isn’t about creating something for everyone else to see…sometimes it’s simply about seeing yourself.
If you’re looking for something like this for yourself, feel free to reach out and we can talk about your dream session!
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