The Self Gaze
a four hour workshop
On finding yourself in your reflection, seeing yourself not as you are seen but as you see yourself - a four hour workshop led by two boudoir photographers and a self-portrait artist.
Event Overview
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 | 3–7pm
A Workshop & Portrait Experience
Snacks & Beverages (wine, cbd, & n/a options)
Artist Talk by Caitlin Metz on their Self Portrait Practice
A Mini Session with French Press Boudoir
5 Digitals | Polaroids
Schedule
3 - 3:30 pm | Welcome & snacks
3:30 - 5:30 pm | Portrait Sessions + Workshop
During this time we will host two different sessions (you’ll attend both)
an artist talk with Caitlin on their self portraiture practice
a mini portrait shoot with Emma and Jessa (this will happen in community, which we believe is healing)
3:30 - 4:30 pm | Session one
4:30 - 5:30pm | Session two
5:30 - 6:15 pm | Individual Portrait Practice
Put it into practice! You’ll have time to dance with yourself within a container of affirmation and support
6:15 - 7pm | Collective celebration and sharing
The Teachers
Caitlin is a St. Louis based illustrator, author, and designer, who uses self portraiture as a means of documentation, self inquiry, ritual, and spiritual practice. They have been taking self–portraits for two decades as a form of release and coping strategy through depression and anxiety. It’s how they grappled with the abuse of high control religion (and left), came out at non-binary, recorded their shifting body through pregnancy and postpartum. When they’re not taking moody portraits, you can find them building epic cardboard forts, reading Mary Oliver, and screaming about the sky.
Emma is a St. Louis based photographer who believes love is in the fabric of everything. Photography is the modality she uses to capture that love as often as possible in every form she can - whether that’s witnessing people vow to forever or someone wanting to celebrate the season they’re in or someone looking to come home to themselves. She thrives by always looking for the glimmers and creating joy in any moment she is planted. When she’s not taking photographs, she’s hiking in a national park, snuggling with her husband and their six pets, or making lattes in jars to share with friends.
Jessa is a St. Louis Portrait Photographer specializing in Women, Femmes & Thems; their lived experiences, passions and the community surrounding them. Her work is rooted in the art of showing up exactly as she is (thrilled with a deep love and care for others, remaining in constant awe and smiling with all her teeth) which creates a space that allows others to do the same. Her photography journey started at a very young age and became the way she learned about herself and the world - an art she continues to share. When she’s not behind the camera, she’s chasing around her daughter and two cats, sipping leftover coffee from her morning cup, and cheering on everyone she knows.
FAQS
-
femmes & thems
-
– to welcome yourself back home
– to stand steady within your own gaze
– To document this moment in time, in your body (a liminal space, new beginning, identify shift, etc)
– for the community, the shared intimacy and vulnerability of being with yourself in a group
– to start a creative self practice with yourself
-
What makes you feel powerful, cool, sexy, what gives you gender euphoria, what makes you feel most like yourself? Wear those things! Feel free to bring outfit changes if you want. This class is co-taught by boudoir photographers, but this is not a boudoir specific workshop, embrace your inner slut if you want, or rock a Canadian tuxedo.
-
Sketchbooks/pens, any objects you might want to use as a prop, a childhood photo of yourself
-
Yes! We’ll have light snacks to kick off the workshop, wrap up with charcuterie, and wine, cbd, and n/a bevies throughout the entire workshop
An Online Course is in the works
Sign up to receive updates about The Self-Gaze Workshop and the future of our this passion project.