I was commissioned to photograph Renée’s healing journey after a hysterectomy.

In recent years, I’ve become fascinated with the menstrual cycle and its profound impact on those who experience it. More than anything, I’ve been struck by how little we who bleed are taught about our own bodies, how often we must dig, piece together knowledge, and advocate for ourselves. This series is part of that exploration.

Renée’s Renaissance follows Renée in the wake of her hysterectomy. After years of enduring pain and dismissal due to endometriosis, she made the radical choice to reclaim her body. These images document the emotional weight of that moment, the duality of loss and relief, the tenderness of healing, and the quiet defiance in choosing oneself.

The portraits are intimate, capturing Renée post-op in moments of reflection. Some images are graphic, confronting the physical reality of her body’s transformation, while others are soft and quiet. It is in this duality, between the visceral and the gentle, that the work embraces the normalcy of bodily change. This series invites you to question what may be going on inside of you and how you can better know yourself.

This ongoing series was born from a desire to introduce viewers to the natural rhythms that profoundly affect the outer and inner world of menstruating bodies. Through it, I seek to break silences, hold space, and honor the complex, sacred relationship between bodies and blood.

It was an honour to document this powerful chapter in Renée’s life.

Renée is the Founder and Chief Culture Officer for The Renaissance Period.