Photo Session

Breaking Stereotypes - Beautiful Photography Celebrating Muslim American Families: The Ali Family

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Sehba Ali is an amazing woman. Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to take photos of her and her amazing family. To say that the family is "awesome", "full of life", and "incredibly kind" would be a massive understatement.

Sehba is the Superintendent of KIPP Houston, a district of 26 public charter schools serving approximately 13,500 students. Sehba is great at what she does and her tireless service to the students and families will be recognized for generations.

From the start of our photo session it was clear just how much this family loves each other. Each family member's fantastic personalities shined through and the world is lucky to have the Alis! 

Photography Celebrating Transgender Texan Families: Fareen and Sebastian

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What a wonderful morning with Sebastian, Fareen, and their wonderful daughter! We played on rocks, we played in the creek, we splashed, and there was tons of love!

Fareen and Sebastian are a queer couple living in Austin, and they absolutely love each other and their awesome daughter. Fareen is a cisgender Desi Muslim woman, Sebastian is a transgender Puerto Rican Catholic man. As I hope is clear from the pictures, these fantastic people just want to be who they are and love who they love. They're putting so much good out into the world!

In Texas, SB6 is a bathroom bill aimed at making going to the bathroom as difficult, and potentially scary, as possible for trans people. The bill is making it's way through the state legislature in a brutal, inhumane, and uncompromising manner despite hours and hours of testimony into the early morning on the damage and stigmatization that the bill will cause.

Some stats from 2015:

  • Gender reassignment surgery can cost $15,500

  • 41% of transgender people have attempted suicide

  • 19% of transgender people have experienced violence or abuse from a family member 

  • 26% of people have lost a job due to their identity

  • As of 2015 only 18 states had clear laws protecting transgender people

If you live in Texas, call on your representatives to strike down this heinous and bigoted legislation. Put laws on the books protecting amazing families and individuals like Sebastian and Fareen!