This is for women who are the face of their brand and the voice behind their work.
Course creators, creatives, and entrepreneurs, building visible businesses where showing up isn’t optional.
Your next level requires images that match that.
As featured in
75% of potential customers are judging your credibility before you’ve even said a word. Your images are the first thing they see.
Source: Stanford University
Introducing
20 Women, 20 Stories
A fully guided lifestyle Personal Brand experience designed to help you move from:
“I don’t love being in front of the camera, and what photo can I use?”
To becoming someone who says…
“I finally have images that reflect my leadership and the level I operate at.”
This is not a quick headshot session. It is a premium, fully guided experience for women whose visibility supports their work. This experience lives under SEEN™, my signature approach to portrait and Personal Brand photography.
Imagine
Having a body of work that supports you every time you show up…
01 Reflect your expertise and the depth behind your work.
02 Show you as you are when you’re fully in your work and in your own rhythm.
03 Give you images you can use across your website, your content, and your marketing, without second-guessing what to choose.
04 Help you share your story in a way that feels natural and draws the right people.
05 Position yourself clearly at the level you’re operating at now.
All created in a few focused hours.
In their own words
Working with Monica was such a wonderful experience. What started as a few professional images became
A full exploration of my expression.
She created such a relaxed, enjoyable environment and made me feel completely at ease in front of the camera, which is not something that comes naturally to me. Her guidance is exceptional, and she has a way of bringing out something deeper in you. I would absolutely recommend Monica, especially for women who need that gentle encouragement to step forward. You walk away not just with beautiful images, but a reminder of the strength and grit that is inside.
– Tanya Templeton – Coach
Working with Monica was an incredible experience from start to finish. From the moment we met, she made me feel completely at ease, creating a relaxed and supportive environment. What stood out most was her ability to
understand my brand and capture both my true self and the image I wanted to portray.
When I saw the final portraits, I was honestly blown away. They were beyond anything I had imagined. Monica guided me so naturally throughout the session, and her attention to detail, from lighting to final retouching, is exceptional. The end result is a collection of images I will treasure for years to come. She doesn’t just photograph you. She brings your essence to life.
– Trish Mitchell – Fine Artist, UK
I recently had a branding photo session with Monica, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience and the results! Monica has a way of making you feel confident and natural, which in turn makes your true essence shine through in the final photos.
I feel more confident than ever before, and the photos exceeded my expectations,
capturing exactly the image I wanted to portray for my business. Monica’s talent and professionalism are evident in every shot, and I can’t thank her enough for her amazing work. Thank you, Monica, for an incredible experience!
– Carol Hampshire – Brand Strategist
Monica made the whole portrait photography experience an absolute pleasure.
As someone who is a bit camera shy, she made me feel at ease & just captured the best moments. She is a true professional & artist.
– Jo-Mari, Bosman – Marketing Strategist
Being photographed was both exciting and vulnerable. But from the moment I met Monica, I felt completely at ease.
She doesn’t just take a photo. She lifts the veil, revealing the depth of who you are.
When I saw my portraits, I felt both awe and gratitude. I felt seen in a way that was deeply personal, and powerful. It was as though she captured something beyond how I look, something I hadn’t fully recognised in myself before.
– Dr. Carli Van Niekerk
“Monica didn’t just photograph me. She saw me.
I finally have images that reflect who I am and where my business is going. I’ve used these images everywhere. LinkedIn, my website, launches, and my YouTube channel. They’ve changed how I show up and have drawn my ideal clients to me.
– Shirlee Engel
Three women’s portrait campaigns.
110 women featured and published.
Over 180 portrait sessions delivered.
One word they all come back with: SEEN™
And yet, I see the same quiet frustration again and again.
You know the level you’re operating at. You’ve grown. You’re not the same woman you were a few years ago.
“I’m not who I was a few years ago… but my brand still looks outdated.”
People are watching. Clients are deciding whether to work with you. Opportunities are forming impressions.
The question is, what are your images saying about you right now?
You’ll leave with a strong, personalised collection of images created specifically for you and your brand.
So when opportunities arise, you’re not frantically scrolling your phone photos folder looking for what to share, you’re stepping forward prepared, grounded, and confident in how you present yourself.
What This Looks Like In Your Business:
You see yourself differently. And from that moment, everything shifts
Clear. Grounded. Certain.
There’s a moment in almost every session where you stand a little taller. Your energy shifts. It’s subtle, but unmistakable. There’s a sense of, this is me, fully in my zone.
You’re simply embodying who you are, without holding yourself back. And that’s what comes through in the images.
So your images don’t just look like you, they feel like you.
Personal branding is more than just having beautiful photos. It’s about how your presence comes through them. People don’t respond to how you look, they respond to what they feel when they experience you, even through an image.
The way you hold yourself, your posture, your expression, all of those subtle cues shape perception before you’ve even said a word.
A photograph offers a peek into your world.
And every time you share one of these images, you’re reminded of that version of yourself. The one who felt grounded, sure of who she is, and clear on what she’s building.
That feeling starts to become your new normal, and it filters into everything. Your writing, your conversations, your decisions, the way you show up.
You show up with more certainty, and people feel it.
Clients aren’t just responding to a polished image. They’re responding to your energy, and to the clarity behind it.
This feels like where you are.
This is your moment to step into it.
This isn’t just a photo session.
It’s the moment you see yourself clearly, and once you’ve seen that version of you, you don’t go back. You don’t leave with a few updated photos. You leave with momentum, confidence, and a different energy behind everything you do.
What’s Included In Your Experience:
Only 20 women will be selected for this campaign.
Investment
More than a photo session.
A story-led image library for your brand,
shaping how you are seen, experienced, and remembered.
South Africa | R40 000
Based in Cape Town. Available nationally.
Europe | €3 000
Available across select European cities.
Hello, I’m Monica
For over two decades, I’ve photographed women around the world, and through every chapter of my career, one word has surfaced again and again. One word has been shared by my clients time after time.
SEEN.
After their sessions, they tell me, “I feel seen.” And that simple word has shaped the way I work ever since.
Over the years, I’ve run three successful women’s portrait campaigns, each culminating in a published magazine and a powerful body of work celebrating women at different stages of life. Those experiences deepened my understanding of what happens when a woman truly sees herself. As my clients have grown, so has the work.
What began as studio portraits has expanded into full personal branding. Today, I create lifestyle-led imagery in beautiful homes and carefully chosen locations, telling the fuller story of who you are and how you lead.
Not just portraits, but visual narratives that support your brand, your marketing, and the way you show up online. The women I photograph are authors, course creators, entrepreneurs, podcast hosts, YouTubers, and founders – women building meaningful businesses who need imagery that reflects their level and supports their growth.
When a woman feels seen, she shows up differently, and that shift naturally reflects in her brand. She communicates more clearly. She stands more confidently in who she is. And once she’s seen herself that way, she doesn’t forget it. She carries it into how she leads, how she speaks, and how she shows up.
That is what SEEN™ is about.
Not simply creating beautiful portraits, but creating the space for you to recognise yourself as the radiant, capable woman you are, and to position your brand with visuals that match the level you are stepping into.
If you are building a brand where your presence matters, your images cannot remain an afterthought.
You have grown, and your visibility should reflect that. When your visual presence matches your level, opportunities meet you there. 20 Women, 20 Stories: The Personal Brand Experience is designed for women who are ready to lead visibly.
FAQ
SEEN™ 20 Women, 20 Stories is for women in business who are building, or who have built, something meaningful.
If you are a founder, creative, entrepreneur or course creator who has grown your business over time and now feels ready to be seen more visibly, this experience is designed for you.
Perhaps your business has evolved but your photographs have not. If your current images feel outdated or no longer reflect the level you are operating at, this is an opportunity to update your visual presence with a strong, intentional gallery of images you can use across your business.
This edition is open to women based in Cape Town, South Africa, Dubai and Europe, including Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
If you have a European city in mind where you would love to be photographed, let me know and I will confirm whether I can work it into my travel schedule.
Only 20 women in total will be photographed and featured in this edition of SEEN™ 20 Women, 20 Stories.
My previous portrait sessions were photographed in my portrait studio using backdrops and a controlled studio environment.
SEEN™ 20 Women, 20 Stories moves beyond the studio.
These sessions take place in carefully chosen real-world locations within your city. This might include elegant hotel spaces, cafés, architectural streets, beautiful doorways, outdoor locations or areas with strong textures and natural light.
Some sessions lean more toward an urban city feel, while others include quieter streets or scenic surroundings. We work with what is visually interesting in the area and what feels aligned with your personal brand.
We collaborate on the location direction. You may already have places that feel meaningful or aligned with who you are, and I welcome that.
Before your session I explore the area so we can identify visually strong spaces. A day or two before the shoot I walk the locations and map out where we will photograph so the session flows smoothly and we use our time well.
At the same time, there is always room for natural moments to unfold. Some of the most powerful images happen in between the planned locations.
Yes, and it is one of the most exciting parts of the experience.
Each of the 20 women photographed will be featured in the printed edition of SEEN™ 20 Women, 20 Stories: The Personal Brand Experience.
A selection of your portraits and your written story will form part of the publication.
Your story will be shaped through a set of thoughtful questions I will send you in advance. These questions invite you to reflect on your journey, your work and the ideas that shape the way you lead your business.
Your website and social media handles will also be included so readers can connect with you and follow your work.
Many women I photograph feel this way. It’s very normal.
You will be fully guided throughout the entire session and you don’t need to know how to pose. I will guide you into the most flattering poses for your height and shape so you always know exactly what to do.
My role is to help you feel comfortable and to direct you clearly so that your confidence and energy come through naturally in the images.
Most women tell me afterwards that the session was far more relaxing and enjoyable than they expected.
Before your session, we will have a consultation where we talk through wardrobe ideas.
Most women bring five to six outfits that reflect how they show up in their business today. This might include a mix of more relaxed pieces and more structured looks.
You will also receive preparation guidance so that you feel clear and confident about what to bring.
Your session will take place in beautiful real-world locations within the city where you are being photographed.
This might include cafés, hotel spaces, architectural streets, interesting doorways, outdoor locations or areas with beautiful light and texture.
Some sessions lean more urban with a city feel, while others may include quieter streets or scenic surroundings. We work with what is visually strong in the area and what feels aligned with your personal brand.
If there is a place that feels meaningful to you, we can absolutely explore that as well.
Some women choose to book a beautiful Airbnb or hotel room for their session, which gives us access to a private space with beautiful interiors and natural light.
Many women enjoy turning the session into a small personal retreat and book a beautiful Airbnb the night before. It creates a calm and inspiring space to get ready in and often becomes a lovely part of the experience itself.
We can photograph inside the space as well as outside in the surrounding streets or neighbourhood.
Location costs are also not included. For example, if you choose to book a specific Airbnb, hotel suite or private venue for your session, the booking of that space would be arranged and paid for by you.
That said, many beautiful locations such as cafés, hotel lounges, streets, outdoor spaces and architectural areas can be used without additional booking costs, and we will incorporate those into the session where appropriate.
Approximately 14 days after your session, we will meet online to view your images.
You will see a curated gallery of professionally edited portraits and select the images that best represent you for both your personal brand and the magazine feature.
Your selected images will be delivered in digital format through a private online gallery.
Each portrait is professionally and naturally retouched so that you look like yourself, just at your best.
Your images will be provided in both colour and black and white.
This gallery becomes your personal brand image library, making it easy to access photographs whenever you need them for your website, LinkedIn, media features, articles, podcasts, newsletters or social platforms.
Instead of searching through your phone for something that might work, you have a dedicated collection of images ready to use whenever your business needs them.
Most clients choose to settle their investment in full.
A simple three-part payment option is available:
– the first instalment secures your booking
– the second is due shortly before your session (three days prior)
– the final is due after your image reveal on Zoom
A 50% non-refundable deposit secures your session date and confirms your place in this edition of SEEN™ 20 Women, 20 Stories.
Life happens.
If your session is in Cape Town, changes are generally flexible with reasonable notice.
For Dubai and European sessions, any changes must be communicated at least three weeks in advance due to travel logistics.
Complete the application form above.
I will personally reach out for a short call to learn more about you, your business and the next chapter you are stepping into, and to confirm your place in SEEN™ 20 Women, 20 Stories.
Life happens.
If your session is in Cape Town, changes are generally flexible with reasonable notice.
For Dubai and European sessions, any changes must be communicated at least three weeks in advance due to travel logistics.