I hosted one of my favorite types of gatherings: a styled photoshoot disguised as a wild night in. The theme? Band Aids—an ode to Almost Famous, where the women weren’t just following the band… they were the soul of the scene.
Seven women plus me showed up to the house dressed like iconic rockstar muses—fishnets, leather, vintage tees, sequins, and bold red lips. The house? Staged to look completely trashed. There were playing cards, empty bottles, scattered heels, leopard print, and a vintage magazine or two laying around. It looked like we had just rolled in from a 3-day bender on tour. In reality, the props were fake, nothing was broken, and everything was perfectly styled to let us play out a fantasy we don’t often get permission for: to be loud, to be creative, to take up space.
We danced to a playlist full of 70s, 80s, and 90s bangers. Think Joan Jett, Missy Elliot, No Doubt, Beck, La Bouche, Alanis Morissette—anything you’d scream-sing with your best friends, drink in hand and no one watching. Except this time… the cameras were watching. Two of my professional cameras floated between us all night, each woman picking one up to document the chaos, the glam, and the quiet moments in between. We weren’t just the subjects—we were the photographers, the stylists, the performers, the muses.
The energy was electric.
Half of these women hadn’t met before. But once the music started and the eyeliner got smudged just right, there was no awkwardness—just instant connection. One woman told me she hadn’t had this much fun in years. Another said it reminded her who she was before motherhood, before work, before life got so serious. Every single one of us needed this outlet more than we realized.
And that’s why I do this.
These aren’t just parties. They’re mini creative revolutions. I get to design the space, plan the aesthetic, and style the shoot exactly how I want. But instead of being behind the camera the whole time, I actually get to be in it. I get to live out the vision I see in my head—surrounded by women who are all doing the same.
If you’re reading this and thinking “I want that,” here’s your sign: host the damn party.
You don’t need a reason. You don’t need a birthday or a milestone. Just gather your girls, pick a vibe, and make it happen. Dress up, decorate, play music too loud, take a thousand pictures, and don’t overthink a second of it. You’ll be surprised how healing it is to just play.
Because sometimes the best way to remember who you are… is to throw on fishnets, grab a mic, and act like you’re headlining Madison Square Garden.
Photographers tip – put the camera on auto mode so you don’t have to think of settings, put a flash on for half of the night and other half let the low light blurry, noisy photos rule the evening.
I loved the edit of Phil Chesters Presets on Lightroom or Tezza app on my phone.
My outfit consisted of Amazon finds and bottoms were surprisingly from PacSun!
I am a Little Rock, Arkansas photographer that found these ladies over the past couple years of living here, these are other boss babes that have jobs such as interior design, accountant, realtor, esthetician, another photographer and social media managers. Find your people and blend them together!
Also, little fun hidden fact – if you didn’t catch my “Eat your cake too” Galentine, I printed the photos from that featuring some of these women and taped them on mirrors at this party. Find that party post here!!
