In Episode 4 of Facing Creativity With Brooke Shaden, the Sony Artisan sits down with fine art photographer NC to discuss how creativity can thrive through vulnerability. “NC is a fine art photographer exploring vulnerability through her images,” explains Shaden. “After losing her mom as a young teen and failing to see vulnerability modeled in the men around her, she believed strength meant repressing emotions. Now, NC uses her creativity to change the narrative, baring herself to the camera as well as to the world.” Watch as Shaden and NC further examine this topic of vulnerability followed by a photo shoot that speaks to breaking free of the limits we set for ourselves.

Sony Artisan Brooke Shaden sits down with fine art photographer NC to discuss how creativity can thrive through vulnerability.

In the past, NC says she avoided any type of vulnerability because she felt others could use it to attack her. Now she realizes the importance of knowing not only where vulnerability is necessary, but also recognizing how you receive it as well. “If I keep seeing it as an attack on myself, there’s no way I’ll put myself out there,” says NC. “Females are kind of being looked at as less than, and so I never wanted to be that. But then once I realized, no I’m pretty much everything. That’s essentially what vulnerability is – it’s showing everything. Photography allowed me to show myself how amazing I am. And even saying those words feel weird, but I know I’m supposed to say them.”

As the two discuss the upcoming photo shoot, NC explains that she wants the photo to show an opening up of herself and letting go. “That’s an amazing topic,” says Shaden. “The idea of release. Of being vulnerable and letting go. How do you think you want to portray that?”

“As we go through life, a lot of things stick to us,” answers NC, “and that’s pretty much what we call baggage, right? I definitely want to include that in the photo, kind of a release or representation of that baggage.”

Shaden and NC further discuss props and set up the scene in a studio. Using the Sony Alpha 7R IV and Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens, they practice a variety of shots to catch the light and capture three incredible images that are largely about vulnerability. “Once you’re open enough to try something else, and it’s OK if it doesn’t work because if you look at it a lot of things didn’t work. But you also have to look at the things that did. And the things that did work, they were a consequence of the things that didn’t. So I think that’s just very important.”

She continues, “That’s what life is. Nobody knows how to live life, actually, you know? Everybody lives life their own way and we get different results. So I just think we have to do the best that we can and I think every experience adds to our spiritual evolution, and this is a part of mine.”