How a Brave Decision Changed Everything – Dallas Frisco Portrait Photographer – Me Ra Koh

Last week, I shared LIVE how a brave decision changed everything for Jen. If you missed it, her story will inspire you today!

When Jen first called FIORIA, she wanted her own Rising Phoenix Experience but was unexpectedly laid off work. She was submitting her resume and application to several places and was confident she’d find a job soon. Once she had the job, she’d book her Rising Phoenix Experience. “Give me a couple weeks!” she said with enthusiasm.

What was Rising from the Ashes?

Jen had been through a painful divorce. Despite all the heartbreak, she said that her heart felt so grounded. “Even though the future is so unknown with a nasty divorce, being laid off, losing my apartment, I just know God has something bigger for me than I have for myself.”

The “gift of this season” was another thing rising in her. She had been giving a lot to others with a joyful heart even without a job. Giving had usually been a struggle in the past, but without a job she decided to find more ways to serve and volunteer. And this was giving so much to her in this season.

Deep Waters

Peace was also rising up in her. “I’ve never had such a feeling of peace that I have now. It’s crazy to explain with everything that has gone wrong.”

She shared how a couple months before, she was on a boat with friends. Jen’s always had a fear of deep water. But this day she heard God say “get in the water without a life jacket.” And she did. “I overcame the fear but something much bigger! Then I started crying and heard the Lord say, “I’ll walk with you in deep waters.” In that moment, I felt deep peace more than ever! You’re going to be okay!”

This was such a beautiful, powerful moment. We talked about her finding a blue, flowy dress to represent the deep waters and capture the peace she’s found. How she jumped into the deep waters fully surrendered and found a gift beyond anything she could ever imagine.

Three Months Later, She Still Didn’t have a Job

I’ll never forget the day she called me back. Instead of hearing excitement in her voice, I heard the heavy discouragement. She had done several interviews but none of them were panning out. Jen couldn’t wrap her head around any of it because she was qualified with a ton of experience. And then to my utter surprise, she said “I still want to book my Rising Phoenix Experience! I believe it’s going to work out somehow!”

“If I could see my true self…it’d be easier to walk in it everyday. It would give me more confidence. My eyes would say “Oh wow! I really am a child of God. He DOES love me. We can get through anything because I am loved.”

How Her Brave Decision Changed Everything.

We scheduled her Rising Phoenix Experience for a month out. But to reserve the date on our calendar, she had to pay the Session Fee for the Professional Hair & Makeup and Photo Shoot. Our Weekday Session Fee is $300, and Jen was almost to the end of her means. But she was adamant. She didn’t want to wait any longer because she believed seeing her true self was going to make ALL the difference going forward.

“I need to see that I am God’s girl! I am His. Nothing can ever change that!” she said.

Next Came the First Breakthrough

So we booked it! But right before we got off the phone, I asked her what kind of job she was looking for. For some reason, I never thought to ask her this three months earlier.

Jen worked in the mortgage industry for several years. She didn’t really want to go back but had been applying to several openings. But her dream job was something totally different–something that felt out of reach. Her dream was to be a teacher and work with little kids. Her voice lit up talking up kids and how much she loves them. When I asked her if she applied for any of those jobs, she told me that she didn’t have a teaching certificate.

Divine Timing Makes the Craziest Connections

As I listened to Jen, I remembered a conversation with a good friend in the last week. Our church had launched The Learning Center teaching little ones through 5 years old. They were looking for teachers and you didn’t need a teaching certification! I told her I was going to call and see if they had any openings left!

Within the next couple weeks, Jen was hired! Within the first month, she was promoted and given a raise! she is literally working her dream job! And every day she sees her Rising Phoenix artwork and is reminded she is God’s girl!

It’s amazing how her brave decision changed everything! She decided to book her Rising Phoenix Experience before she even had the job! Putting down that $300 Weekday Session Fee was a huge step of faith. Not knowing how she was going to pay for the artwork in her bedroom was looming in the future. And yet, within two weeks of booking it, Jen not only had a job but her dream job!

There is No Midnight Hour

I LOVE this last portrait of Jen! She looks like a daughter of the King! She’s not a Cinderella who has to worry about the clock striking twelve. She’s running and taking the leap of faith into the deep waters, the very thing that scared her for most her life. And in that place of surrender, she has found the Voice that passes all understanding. “I’ll be with you in deep waters. You’re going to be okay. I have something bigger for you than you could ever imagine. You are a child of God, and I love you. You are my girl! Run with Me!”

Jen Doesn’t Need Walls

Sometimes people will say they don’t have any walls for their Rising Phoenix artwork. And then there is Jen, Linda, Vicky, Nancy, just to name a few, who are all Rising Phoenixes and living in major transition. Some are sleeping on a friend’s couch, in a spare bedroom or AirBnb’ing with everything in storage. They don’t need walls. They just need to prop up their Rising Phoenix artwork so they can see it every day and be reminded of who they are.

Being reminded of these truths plays a big role in helping them navigate the unknown.

Jen’s Feedback a Couple Months Later

I asked Jen this last week, “What’s it like to see your Rising Phoenix every day?” And her answer was so powerful!

“Looking at it every day makes me tear up. Lol. I know it’s sounds super corny but everyday when I see it I feel freedom and so much peace and joy that I’ve never had before. Even though I’m still going through things I can say I’m content for the first time. I still have rough days. But seeing this makes me look back and the first thing that comes to mind is the Lord brought me through everything I’ve walked through. And He continues to. He never left my side and never will. God has given me everything I need to keep pushing forward. He has a plan and a future for me.”

“And He walked with me then through deep waters and He will always walk with me. He has shown me who I really am in Him. And to love myself again. Healing is painful but man, growth is beautiful. Turning ashes into beauty. God can do a lot when you really surrender it all to Him and allow him to heal you from the inside: really soaking in that He really loves me. I’m His favorite. I’m really God’s girl forever!”

Are You Ready to Rise like a Phoenix?

This experience is about you seeing the truth of who you are. When you see your resilience on the wall every day, it transforms you from the inside out. Jen’s words are such a testimony to that! If you are overwhelmed with all the reasons why you shouldn’t invest time or money in yourself, I want you to pause and think of all the obstacles and challenges you have overcome in your life whether it’s a weight loss journey, depression, knowing you are enough, you are worthy, anxiety, cancer, seasons changing with kids leaving the nest, loss of a loved one. Have you been promoted in your career or pivoted with resilience?

Life is full of challenges. And we so often struggle to celebrate ourselves in a meaningful, lasting way.

The list of how we rise like a phoenix to overcome the odds goes on and on.

You Give to Everyone Around You

You’ve most likely given to everyone else. The time has come to give something transformational and lasting to you. Just read the following stories.

Have you achieved a weight goal? Read Jamie’s inspiring story of never going back after significant weight loss.

Maybe you need deeper healing from childhood trauma. You’ve done the counseling but still struggle to see the truth about who you are. You may relate to Tiffany’s story.

Jajuan flew from Seattle for his Rising Phoenix Experience! He wanted his daughters to see not only who dad is but where he’s come from. Sony spotlighted Jajuan’s Rising Phoenix story as one of the Best Of portraits in 2022! See Jajuan’s powerful story.

Or maybe you’re turning 40, 50, 60 or 70+ and want to reflect and celebrate who you are and the possibilities of what this next season of life holds? 

The first step is to fill out our Rising Phoenix inquiry; CLICK HERE.

Michelle Found Courage to Step Beyond Grief

Meet Michelle. She is definitely someone who has known great courage. At one time, she was an interrogator for the US military in the Middle East. This 5’4 woman knows confidence. But the loss of her mom swallowed that confidence.

There are some seasons in life when we feel unshakeable courage and other seasons that leave us feeling lost. After great loss, it takes great courage to step forward. Maybe you relate to Michelle’s story.

Meet Our Oldest Rising Phoenix

She was in her 80s and never had her makeup and hair done. I’ll never forget the giggles we had over watching Oma that day in the studio. This beautiful 4’9 woman came to the United States with Opa when she was only 23 yrs old and pregnant with her first baby. All they had was $50. Leaving behind family and all that was familiar in the Netherlands, they boarded a cargo boat and set out to make a new life.

Krista, Oma’s granddaughter, had a FIORIA family experience with us last year. When she saw us launch the Rising Phoenix Experience, she thought of her grandma. Oma is the heart of their family and lived eighty plus years as a rising phoenix.

Click Here to meet Oma, our oldest Rising Phoenix!

Crystal drove to us from Las Vegas.

A single woman who has always been known for being responsible and quiet, yet there is another side of her that wants to come out. A side that is brave and takes risks—that believes she is worthy of doing something special not just for others but for herself too. A year after her Rising Phoenix Experience, she sent us photos of her traveling solo in Europe! She told us how much her life has changed from seeing who she is every day when she looks at her Phoenix portraits!

What truth do you need to be reminded of daily to unleash your purpose and potential?

Meet Our Youngest Rising Phoenix, a Miracle Photo Shoot!

CLICK HERE to see the most miraculous Rising Phoenix portraits!

This is the first time Isabella has ever looked at the camera and smiled. This was a miracle photo shoot.

I’ll never forget my first Discovery Call with Isabella’s mom. She wasn’t sure this was a good idea because Isabella is very sensory sensitive. Photo shoots have never gone well in the past. She felt very hesitant to believe this photo shoot could be a success.

I felt her words on such a deep level. I didn’t want to set them up for disappointment either. But I just knew that there was something so special about this whole thing. I told her, “There are many doubts and fears I can struggle with, but this is something I am confident I can do.” She borrowed that confidence, and we witnessed a miracle photo shoot.

All these people have something in common, they were ready to …

Rise above the ashes of what other people have said
Rising above their fear and doubts
Embracing their Rising Phoenix within.

Through our Rising Phoenix Experience, they not only did something special for themselves but also received something transformational.

I invite you to experience the transformation too!

Your Rising Phoenix Experience includes:

• Signature Phone Calls with You and Loved Ones (collection of words that give you life)
• Professional Hair & Makeup
• Wardrobe Consultation & Vision
• Rising Phoenix Photo Shoot with Me Ra Koh (Sony Artisan, Disney Host, and Live with Kelly & Ryan Guest Expert—You’re in good hands. I will pose you, and Brian will drop shadows and light on you in the most flattering way that radiates your Rising Phoenix.)
• Same Day Cinematic Reveal & Custom Design Session with our In-House Design Specialist
• Beautiful Artwork of Your Rising Phoenix, Custom Designed for the Best Place where it will Speak Truth to You Every Day.

CLICK HERE to fill out the inquiry and begin your Rising Phoenix Experience!

I can’t wait to speak soon! Still we rise!
Me Ra

GEAR USED

(Amazon affiliate links included)

Camera: Sony Alpha1: https://amzn.to/3ncGe57
Lens: Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM: https://amzn.to/2VvyexL
Sony High Speed SD Card: https://amzn.to/2SV8Aky
One Light: Profoto B1X: https://amzn.to/2LSuAvL
Profoto Sony Air Remote TTL-C: https://amzn.to/2LUHWI2
Modifier: Profoto Octa 254712 RFi 5ft Softbox: https://amzn.to/331w38v
HP Spectre Laptop: https://amzn.to/2SSvtp0
Sandbags: https://amzn.to/326QjVl
Tether Cable: https://amzn.to/2GGcNUm