A Milestone in Creativity: My 25th Birthday Photoshoot

My 25th birthday was a milestone—the first time I planned a birthday photoshoot. Birthdays have always been a big deal for me, thanks to my mom, who always knew how to make them feel magical. She threw the most incredible celebrations, and that love for birthdays stayed with me.

I knew I didn’t want the typical balloons and white backdrop for this shoot. Instead, I wanted to create something unique and personal that reflected my creativity. I developed two themes that captured how I felt about turning 25.

My love for The Weeknd’s House of Balloons inspired the first theme. I wanted a moody, dimly lit vibe that paid tribute to one of my favorite artists and his unforgettable aesthetic. The second theme was an “unhappy birthday” party—more reflective and emotional. Turning 25 made me think about stepping into my mid-20s, and I felt a mix of emotions about life and where I’m headed.

This shoot was so special because I directed and created every detail myself. From the concepts to the styling, I had complete creative control and loved bringing my vision to life. I couldn’t have done it without my little team—my two friends and my husband—who helped make everything happen. Thanks to them for being the best helpers and supporting my ideas, even when I had no clue what I was getting myself into!

This photoshoot taught me so much about my creativity and how much I enjoy creating visual stories that are entirely my own. It wasn’t just a celebration—a chance to express myself and capture a moment that felt meaningful and authentic to who I am.

This Pinterest board captures the moody and dark vibe I envisioned for my 25th birthday photoshoot. Pinterest is one of my go-to tools for planning, and this board reflects the themes and inspiration I worked with for this shoot. This board was the starting point for translating my ideas into a creative and personal shoot.

An Unhappy Birthday Party

For my 25th birthday photoshoot, I wanted a chaotic, grungy background that captured how turning 25 feels—messy, raw, and slightly out of place. The backdrop was intentionally imperfect, reflecting the emotions and transitions of stepping into my mid-20s. I did my makeup to complete the look, keeping it bold and personal, just like the theme.

House of Balloons

If you’re familiar with The Weeknd’s early music, you know how captivating and immersive it is. His dark, moody aesthetic and haunting lyrics have this way of drawing you in, creating a vibe you can lose yourself in for hours. When I first heard House of Balloons, it resonated with me deeply—it felt like a reflection of the chaos I was experiencing in my life. That raw, unfiltered energy was something I wanted to bring into my 25th birthday photoshoot.

I transformed my mom’s bathroom into my version of House of Balloons for this shoot. Like the original concept, it was messy, dramatic, and emotional—a space where everything feels chaotic yet oddly beautiful. The moody tones and grungy backdrop helped me channel those feelings, capturing the essence of what it felt like to turn 25.

This shoot wasn’t just about aesthetics but about creating something deeply personal that reflected a chapter of my life. House of Balloons felt like the perfect inspiration to combine it, blending creativity, nostalgia, and a touch of darkness into something uniquely me.