Stardust Story: The Photoshoot I Did Before Surgery
Hi, Galactic Star 🌟
Right before my laparoscopic surgery, I did a photoshoot.
Not because everything felt perfect.
Not because I felt 100%.
But because I needed to capture myself in this season, in my own design, before everything shifted.
I also filmed a behind the scenes video from that day.
If you want to experience the photoshoot in motion, you can watch it here:
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I needed help bringing that vision to life, and my bestie and their partner showed up for me in the most generous way. What you are seeing in these photos was not just content creation. It was care. It was community.
It was grounding.
Setting the Scene
Setting up a shoot is honestly one of my favorite parts of studio work.
There is something peaceful about building a simple environment and watching it come together. It doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. Simple setups can create beautiful things.
I chose a neutral grey backdrop because I wanted the focus to stay on the products. No distractions. Just the designs.
Designs I created to connect.
To be seen.
To uplift.
To normalize inclusive language in everyday life.
Seeing Myself Through a Different Lens
There’s something vulnerable about being photographed in your own work.
Seeing myself wearing the beanies, the pins, the pieces I designed gave me a new perspective. These aren’t just products sitting in a mockup.
They’re lived in.
They exist in real spaces. In offices. In coffee shops. On morning commutes.
I’ve been wearing different color beanies to work lately and getting small compliments here and there. And every time someone notices, especially the pronoun beanie or pin, it reminds me why this matters.
Representation doesn’t always need to be loud.
Sometimes it is just quiet, everyday visibility.
Sometimes it’s someone glancing at your pin and feeling less alone.
A Reminder Before Surgery
Looking back now, this photoshoot feels symbolic.
It was a pause before surgery.
A documentation of who I was in that moment.
A reminder of why I started Galactic Flow in the first place.
I did not know exactly how recovery would go. I did not know how I would feel months later. But I knew this:
- I wanted to create from alignment, not pressure.
- I wanted to show up in my own work.
- I wanted to see myself in what I built.
Galactic Flow has always been about visibility, affirmation, and everyday empowerment. This shoot reminded me that impact doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful.
If you’ve ever needed a reminder of why you started something, this is yours.
Keep going.
Keep creating.
Keep showing up as you are.
You can explore the pieces featured in this photoshoot inside the shop here.
With Cosmic Care,
Kassidy 🌌