Karma’s Magical Milestone Birthday Portraits – A Maui Photographer looks at 40
Last Updated on January 2, 2020 by Karma Hill
Hey, It’s Karma, this August I turned 40.
It’s crazy how when you are 20, forty seems so far away and let’s be honest, OLD. As I was approaching this milestone birthday, I kept thinking to myself, I can’t BELIEVE I am turning 40!! I think this disbelief stemmed from that 20-year-old me. At 20 I would have thought that at 40 I would be a yawn and just spending my time doing boring mom things. The reality is, yes I do those mom things but also I don’t FEEL boring and old. I mean I just topless sunbathed in Spain this summer and still listen to top 40 pop music, I can’t really be that boring right?! I actually feel like I am still in the prime of my life, still learning, still hungry. Sure I sometimes injure myself while I sleep and I just can’t rock a hangover like I did in my 20’s but, I feel like I have so much to do still.
As I reflected on what I was proudest of over the past 40 years, it was all the things I created with my heart, body, mind and soul. My marriage of 16 years, my two kids, my strong friendships, my beautiful home, my businesses that bring joy to our clients and creates employment for over 2o people. The art I get to create as a part of those businesses and just for the sake of creating. I feel like I was put on this planet to be a creative. The fact that I am living my truth brings me so much joy, sometimes I feel like my heart might burst. It was that feeling that inspired this photo shoot. I wanted to feel like a goddess, a creator, a divine being that brings light to all around. So the theme for this shoot was full on earth goddess mode.
Unlike most photographers, I actually like being in front of the camera! I have so much fun having my picture taken, it’s probably why I love being a people photographer so much, I want to bring that joy to others and I love capturing authentic emotion. Honestly, the only thing I like photographing besides people is sunsets with my iPhone. Even if you don’t like being in front of the camera like me, I really feel like every 10 years, this is something people should do. I guarantee in 10 years when I am 50, I will love looking back at this shoot. Also, I made the conscious decision to only have this shoot be about ME. I did not include my husband and kids because I spend SO much of my time doing everything for everyone else that damn it, I wanted something just for me. As bosses, moms, caregivers, spouses, employees, daughters, friends, we spend so much of our life in the service of others, it’s nice to remind ourselves that we matter too, take care of yourself, be gentle with yourself as you would a friend. I am still learning to reign in my self-talk, mom guilt, body envy, etc. but at forty, I honestly feel better in my own skin than any other time in my life. So listen up 20-year-olds, it gets better!! Knowing how I feel now, I am excited to enter into my next decade and see what will unfold!
I tapped on my awesome network to create this magical shoot. Cheynice who is one of our amazing photographers here, put up with my crazy ideas and did an amazing job! Della and Jeanne from Dellables showered me with flowers and my bestie Adiel who owns Salon 253 hooked me up with hair and makeup, and the use of her pool since it was a raging river at Iao valley where we originally were going to shoot! Thanks ladies, you are all the bomb and I am so lucky to have you in my life!!
I hope that our team gets the opportunity to photograph more of these milestone birthdays for the strong amazing women out there. Celebrate each decade, 20, 30, 40, 50 and all the way up!
See another recent magical styled portrait with the Prouty family and a magical VW bus here!
Karma Hill is the owner of Karma Hill Photography, Simple Maui Wedding, Simple Oahu Wedding, and Simple Hawaii Wedding, marking a significant presence in the Hawaii wedding community since 2007. With a wealth of experience and a vast collection of informative posts on weddings and photography in Hawaii, Karma Hill offers unparalleled expertise. Explore the world of photography and wedding planning across Hawaii by visiting Karma's websites.
