Pride Through My Lens: Why Telling Queer Stories Matters
For years, I thought something was
wrong with me.
I remember watching the girls around me giggling about boys and their latest crushes, analyzing every glance or interaction. I tried to play along, tried to feel what they were feeling. But I didn’t. Not in the way they did. It didn’t make sense to me—why that guy?
I didn’t have the words for it then, but I knew I was different. And when you grow up different and don’t see yourself reflected in movies, TV shows, or even books, you start to believe that your version of “normal” must be broken. The world wasn’t built with people like me in mind.
It takes an incredible amount of self-reflection and vulnerability to figure out your identity and sexuality when you're not cisgender or straight. Especially when the media offers no representation, and the only role models around you all fit a mold you never quite slip into. I spent years unraveling my sexuality, holding pieces up to the light and asking: Is this me?
Eventually, after years of discernment, I found language that felt like home. I’m pansexual. For me, it’s always been about the person, not the parts. It’s about energy, connection, spirit—how someone moves through the world.
Coming out publicly wasn’t easy, especially in my 30s. I had lived so long behind a carefully constructed veil, trying to fit in. I asked myself more than once, Is it really anyone’s business who I love? And the answer? No. It isn’t.
But I also knew that every person who stands comfortably in the light gives someone else permission to come out of the darkness.
So I made the choice to be visible—not just for me, but for the version of me that needed someone like me. The teenager wondering if they were the only one. The young adult feeling unseen in their relationships. The person scrolling late at night looking for even one pansexual voice to say, You are not alone.
Because there was no me to guide me, I chose to become that guide for someone else. Visibility matters. Representation matters. Pride matters.
Let’s Clear a Few Things Up
I’ve learned that being pansexual still confuses people. That’s okay—curiosity is welcome here, and I believe in meeting people where they are. But just so we’re clear:
- No, I am not a sex maniac.
- No, I am not confused or "just waiting to come out as gay later."
- No, I don’t owe anyone a neat, digestible label that makes my attraction easier for others to categorize.
- Yes, you
can be in a loving, successful relationship as a pan person. (I am.)
The truth is, people want to place others in boxes because it makes the world feel less complicated. But the beauty of being queer—especially being pan—is living outside the boxes. Love is not linear. Attraction is not a formula. And sexuality and identity are spectrums, not a straight line.
Pride, to me, is the permission slip I never got as a kid. It's standing tall in my truth, loving who I love, and not giving a single damn about who society thinks I should be. It’s about freedom. It's about self-acceptance. And it’s about joy.
Why I Tell Stories—Through My Lens
As a queer artist and photographer, my mission is deeply personal: I want to create a space where you feel seen, valued, and celebrated—no matter your identity.
In a world where queer people are still fighting for visibility, safety, and respect, I use my art as a form of resistance. My camera becomes a tool of affirmation. My studio becomes a sanctuary. And my work becomes a mirror, reflecting back the beauty and truth of LGBTQ+ lives.
I’ve had the honor of photographing queer people and couples, nonbinary folks, trans bodies, and people exploring their gender and sexuality in real-time. Every session is sacred. It’s not just about capturing flattering angles—it’s about holding space for your whole self.
It’s why I love working with non-typical posing, adapting and playing until we find a stance or expression that feels right for you—not just what looks good on Pinterest. It’s about empowerment. It’s about storytelling. It’s about freedom.
Queer love. Queer joy. Queer bodies. Queer truth. These are not just “niche” things. These are vibrant, essential pieces of humanity that deserve to be captured beautifully, honestly, and with care.
To My Clients: Thank You
This month, as the rainbow flags wave high and the spirit of Pride washes over us, I want to take a moment to honor each and every one of my incredible clients who have entrusted me with their most authentic, whole, and real selves. Who have trusted me with their stories. You’ve shown up with bravery, authenticity, and vulnerability. You’ve let me into your world. You’ve invited me to capture the essence of your love, your body, your journey. You are the vibrant hues in my artistic palette, and your trust is a gift I cherish deeply.
And to those of you reading this, those who feel that familiar ache of not being fully seen, of struggling to articulate your own beautiful truth, I extend an open invitation. If you are seeking a space where your sexuality, expression, or identity is not just tolerated but celebrated, where your love story, no matter its shape or form, is revered, then I encourage you to reach out. If you need a safe harbor to explore your own unique expression, to connect with your body and your sexuality in a way that feels utterly authentic, if you are ready to be truly seen and valued in the artistic process, then please, come to me.
You are welcome here. But more importantly, you are valued here.
Whether you're out and proud, quietly questioning, in a relationship that doesn’t “make sense” to others, or discovering who you are late in life—this is a space for you. This is a space where your story matters, where your identity is never too much, and where your love is worth documenting.
Why Queer Visibility in Photography Matters
In the media, LGBTQ+ representation often falls short. It can be stereotyped, objectified, sensationalized, or completely absent. And for those of us with identities that don’t fit into the mainstream—pansexual, nonbinary, genderfluid, poly, ace—finding affirming visuals can feel impossible.
Photography is powerful because it tells the truth the world sometimes refuses to see. A photo can capture joy, resilience, softness, fierceness. It can show that queer people are not just surviving—we are thriving, loving, laughing, building families, and living whole lives.
When you step in front of the camera with me, I want you to feel safe. I want you to feel celebrated. I want you to see your photos and say: Yes. That’s me.
How We Create Together
When you book a session with me, you’re not just getting pretty pictures. You’re getting an experience grounded in trust, safety, creativity, and consent.
Here’s what you can expect:
- A pre-session consultation where we talk openly about your goals, your comfort level, and what you are trying to express.
- Flexible, body-positive, gender-affirming posing and styling guidance.
- An environment where pronouns are respected, no one is misgendered, and your full identity is honored.
- Gentle direction without pressure—because sometimes the most powerful shots come from just being.
- Post-session editing that enhances your natural beauty without erasing what makes you you.
Photography can be healing. It can also be revolutionary. And when we create together, it becomes both.
Let’s Tell Your Story
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to be seen, this is it.
Let’s celebrate your truth. Let’s document your love. Let’s create something bold, joyful, and unapologetically queer.
Because your story deserves to be told—and I’d be honored to help you tell it.
Happy Pride.
With love, light, and the full spectrum of color,
Sabrina
Sabrina Harrison Photography
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Photographer | Pan & Proud | Serving All with Pride
Looking for LGBTQ+ affirming photography in Denver? Book your session today and let’s create a celebration of you.
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