​48” x 48”

“This portrait is a composite image of my past and current self.

On the left is an image of myself during the abuse, believing what he told me:

I'm not a good person. I have a miserable personality, saggy neck, bald spot, bags for eyes, gaps between my teeth, bad skin, wrinkles, stupid.

I am a terrible person that doesn’t deserve love or respect.

I deserve to be alone.

​On the right, is an image of me wanting to hold my past self. And let him know that he will survive. And that he will return to himself.

That he IS good. That he deserves everything in life. He will shine brighter than ever before." --Andrew

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PHOTOGRAPHER :: BEN FINK

SUBJECT :: BRYAN

“There is a light that shines within all of us. A violent partner can leave scars, but can only temporarily dim that light. Afterwards, it shines even brighter. ”--Bryan

PHOTOGRAPHER :: TOYA GOLDEN

SUBJECT :: TOYA

“Conceal to reveal. In life as humans, we face numerous battles that many of us never thought we would see an end to, but those moments in time have created scars that reveal the beauty of self and narrative—allowing you to SHINE through what had been some of your darkest times. Rock the scars that made you.”— Toya

PHOTOGRAPHER :: BEN FINK

SUBJECT :: CHAD

“I always thought I was weak for staying, for letting the abuse happen, letting it escalate.

I wasn’t weak. I was in love. I felt like a coward for leaving in the middle of the night, but now I know I was brave. I thought you were years of my life wasted, but now I know you are one of the biggest learning experiences of my life.

You’re part of who I am today and that’s why I forgive you.”--Chad

PHOTOGRAPHER :: RIAD EDWARDS

SUBJECT :: RACHEL

“I’m grateful for what I’ve been shown & through in this world because it’s so empowering when we take back the shame and turn it into light. We get to drench ourselves in it.

We become magicians. Alchemists.

We turn tin into gold.”—Rachel

PHOTOGRAPHER :: GABRIEL GOLDBERG

SUBJECT :: LEVI

“One of the hardest things for me to realize was that I had settled for and normalized mistreatment; I had accepted dimming my own personal light for the light of someone else. Then one day I was literally hit by an epiphany and I recognized that my strongest attribute wasn’t my body but my own personal resilience and resolve to shine for myself- that I didn’t need someone else to do it for me. I was able to get back up and walk away.”—Levi

PHOTOGRAPHER :: BEN FINK

SUBJECT :: ROB

“My trauma response to abuse was to become as physically strong as possible, so that I could continue to be abused. I wish I would have known that I shouldn’t have been getting abused in the first place.

I am a stronger because of what I survived. My strength lives within my decision to walk away from anyone who tries to knock me down physically, emotionally or mentally. I shine today in the hopes that my light can reach others living in the shadows of abuse.” --Rob

PHOTOGRAPHER :: GABRIEL GOLDBERG

SUBJECT :: SHANNON

“The emotional wounds have taken longer and have been much harder to heal than the physical ones. I had been convinced that the abuse was BECAUSE they loved me, and over time, I came to believe it. Once I realized the only person who was going to save me was myself, I never looked back. Today I stand in the quiet light of my own strength.”--Shannon

“You battered my spirit. You bruised my soul. I was beaten by your words and abused by your hand. I retreated to my spirit and discovered my worth. 

I found my strength and a desire to live. I got out with that strength and empowered myself. Now, I release your control. I release my pain. 

You can never hurt me again.”—Charlie

PHOTOGRAPHER :: RAMON CHRISTIAN

SUBJECT :: JOSH​

“The most powerful phrase I learned after leaving my abuser was “Know Your Worth.” Simple words. But they changed my life and made me realize I deserved more than what I was given. Recognize what, or who, has broken you, and always remember your worth.” --Josh

PHOTOGRAPHER :: BRIAN THOMAS

SUBJECT :: CASSIDY​

“I’ve chosen not to be identified by the rubble that surrounds my past, but by the eloquence of self love through rising up from its disaster. ”--Cassidy

PHOTOGRAPHER :: MICHAEL ARDEN

SUBJECT :: CHRISTIAN

“Realizing your own self worth is the best realization you can have. It comes with power and strength. We are all capable of more and sometimes others try to dim your shine. Because they see your potential and fear you’ll leave them behind. ”--Christian

PHOTOGRAPHER :: DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

SUBJECT :: SASHA

“Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward you have to let go of the things holding you down. The weight of my abusers has been cut finally and now I can fly higher than ever. I can finally be the true woman I have always known I am!”--Sasha

PHOTOGRAPHER :: DUSTI CUNNINGHAM

SUBJECT :: SASHA

“Real transformation requires real honesty. If you want to move forward you have to let go of the things holding you down. The weight of my abusers has been cut finally and now I can fly higher than ever. I can finally be the true woman I have always known I am!”--Sasha

PHOTOGRAPHER :: BEN FINK

SUBJECT :: CHAD

“I always thought I was weak for staying, for letting the abuse happen, letting it escalate.

I wasn’t weak. I was in love. I felt like a coward for leaving in the middle of the night, but now I know I was brave. I thought you were years of my life wasted, but now I know you are one of the biggest learning experiences of my life.

You’re part of who I am today and that’s why I forgive you.”--Chad

Set of Two

PHOTOGRAPHER :: DIANA JADE

SUBJECT :: DIANA JADE + AVA ELISE

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“To be able to grow and blossom from the trauma we faced together as children proves to the world how we deserve to shine and exist as survivors. Both my sister and I are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and through this project we had the opportunity to communicate our own domestic abuse we experienced together growing up, and we express the strength that we have gained through confiding in each other and accepting just how powerful we are now. Together we allowed ourselves to shine authentically and express how within the roughness of the world, the natural beauty will soon tear it apart and blossom to create its own beautiful world—just like we did, together.” – Diana Jade, Ava Elise

PHOTOGRAPHER :: DAVID ZIMMERMAN

SUBJECT :: MATT

“We all have the lives we are willing to accept. We can let the words and actions of others tie us down, or choose to rise above the pain and be in charge of our own ropes. In my life,

I choose to be a hero, never a victim.”—Matt

PHOTOGRAPHER :: CLARK VIROSTICK

SUBJECT :: CLARK

“With my name legally changed and my top surgery behind me, the future never looked brighter. My life is now better than I ever could’ve hoped for, with friends who care about me and a partner who loves and accepts me. I just needed to be brave."--Clark

PHOTOGRAPHER :: ANTHONY AMADEO

SUBJECT :: ANDREW

“I raised myself, and often allowed my older partners to bend me. I didn’t realize until I was much older that I hadn’t raised myself but, molded myself to fit into a man’s idea of me, for safety, a roof, to stay tucked away from their anger. It has taken years of therapy to understand how to feel for myself first, to say no, to say yes, to feel and express exactly what I want or need, because it’s my life, my soul, and mind I have to calmly rock to sleep.

​“I am my protector, my guardian, and safety. Knowing that and living in that, have made me the man I’m happy to be today.”—Andrew

PHOTOGRAPHER :: TARA TWAL

SUBJECT :: SARENA

After heavy losses and unexplainable trauma, I made a goal for myself to focus on resilience. Resilience that hides away, as if hibernation could exist for a word that describes strength in the bright light of hurt. So, I had to wake it up.”--Sarena

PHOTOGRAPHER :: GABRIEL GOLDBERG

SUBJECT :: GEO

“In life, there is a Darkness & there is a Light.

When we are brave enough to explore the darkness we discover the infinite power of our light. Light will overcome darkness, though the dark will fade it will never be forgotten, I have trust in light and I will be brave & love myself through both by my side.”—Geo

PHOTOGRAPHER :: STEVEN MICHAEL

SUBJECT :: EUGENE

“In the same vein as Kintsugi, where broken objects are repaired with gold or other precious metals, put back together, and are considered as more valuable than they were before they were broken - this is how I similarly view myself. With a lot of work on myself, breaking patterns that no longer serve me, and giving the gift of self-love - I put all the broken pieces of myself back together with gold - I embrace my history that led me to the present - and shine with all my might.”—Eugene

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PHOTOGRAPHER :: HAILEY KASPER

SUBJECT :: REGINALD

“Queer people of color will continue to rise and I hope that young people are inspired to unapologetically embrace their free self expression after seeing these photos” --Reginald

PHOTOGRAPHER :: THALIA ESPARZA

SUBJECT :: HAILEY

“Finding your true potential is revealed when there is light from within shining and you realize that shadows dissipate when you shine the brightest.”

--Thalia

PHOTOGRAPHER ::MICHAEL ARDEN

SUBJECT :: KEVIN

“The most important lesson that abuse taught me was to value myself,

to put myself first”-- Kevin

PHOTOGRAPHER :: JIM WILKINSON

SUBJECT :: PAUL

“Young and naive, I was guided down a path by a person I trusted and found myself trapped in a place devoid of comfort, peace or dignity. The shame and isolation left me feeling powerless. When I finally summoned enough courage to end the relationship and leave the situation, I also rediscovered my self-worth.”

—Paul

PHOTOGRAPHER :: JOSHUA SPAMAN

SUBJECT :: ERICA

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“The Shine Project had me see that: Through the lens we can share our strengths. A picture is worth a thousand words? Our photos heal a million lives.

Surviving became a journey, not only to heal myself but to help others heal. We share, we cry, we live! No dark shadows to dampen our light, my light.”—Erica