Welcome to the BE-YOU-tiful BEYOND 40 Project
Celebrating the strength, wisdom, and beauty of women 40+ through powerful photos and stories
Be One of 40 Women Over 40 to Indulge in This Exclusive Photoshoot Opportunity
Experience an unforgettable, magazine-style, portrait session that captures YOU in incredible photos you never thought possible.
Empowering Photoshoot
Expert Guided Process
Stunning Photos You'll Love
You are not too old, too late or too anything.
There’s no expiration date on beauty, confidence, or embracing who you are. Life only gets richer with age, and now is the perfect time to capture it. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment—this is your moment.
You’ve spent years putting everyone else first—now it’s your turn.
It’s time to reclaim the spotlight and celebrate yourself. For years, you’ve supported and cared for others—now it’s time to honour yourself. This photoshoot is your chance to focus entirely on YOU.
Feel beautiful, powerful, and seen like never before.
This is more than just a photoshoot—it’s an opportunity to see yourself through a new lens. It’s an unforgettable, empowering, celebrity-style, magazine portrait experience that allows you to reconnect with yourself and feel unapologetically beautiful in your own skin.
Rediscover your confidence with a transformational photoshoot.
Let us capture your best self—radiant, confident, and full of life. This experience will help you rediscover the confident woman you might have forgotten was there, and leave you with timeless images to cherish.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
~ George Bernard Shaw
The be-you-tiful beyond 40 Project includes
Pre-session Consultation
A week before your session, we will meet via Zoom. I’ll get to know a bit more about you, what makes you unique and how you want to be seen. We’ll plan a custom session just for you, with guidance on how to prepare and what to bring on your special day.
pro hair & makeup
Look your best and feel your best with our professional hair and makeup artist. She will work with you to create the look that you want.
Guided Studio Photo Shoot
Portrait reveal
Within a week of the session we’ll have a private Zoom reveal session where you get to see your beautiful images, select your complimentary portrait and have the opportunity to purchase more.
One Beautiful Gift Print
You will be gifted one archival quality print, matted to 8×10, with its corresponding digital file. It’s my thank you for participating in the project.
Inclusion in Our Magazine
Each participant will receive a beautiful, printed copy of our special edition magazine featuring your story and image along with 39 other amazing women.
Total Value – $1300
ONLY $599
What Clients Are Saying
Life changing.
Rita is absolutely spectacular. Her passion and love to create art with her focus on you makes you feel special right from the start of your session! Her commitment to perfect makes the final product a forever experience!! Cannot thank her enough.
I haven’t felt this good about myself in a long time. The best part of the day was regaining my self-confidence. Rita really captured my essence and now I feel like a new woman.
I went into the BE-YOU-tiful Beyond 40 photo experience quite skeptical and even a bit nervous. My hope was to like at least ONE photo. Throughout the session, both Rita and Julie (MUA) were very complimentary – talk about a hype squad! Once we started shooting, Rita was showing me shots on the back of the camera and I loved what I was seeing. I was able to relax, have fun, and “trust the process”. When I saw my gallery, I was elated with how she captured ME … my personality, my confidence, my playfulness … all of it!
Rita is amazing! I had never liked having my picture taken, much less smile. The session with her was not only relaxed but empowering! Thank you Rita for such an awesome opportunity.
I’d never had a photo shoot before and was a bit hesitant. Rita was recommended to me and I am grateful. At our very first meeting, Rita understood the “look” that I was going for and helped me to envision how she could capture it. Rita has this way of making you feel at ease in front of the camera and it unleashed my inner “supermodel”. She is professional, encouraging and I felt really comfortable throughout the process. I am so pleased with the outcome and what it has done for my self-image and confidence.
We had so many laughs during the session. The photos truly look like how I see myself. Rita captured my essence – she pulled that out of me. I normally take a horrible photo, but Rita made me stunning.
Be part of an empowering community of women over 40.
This isn’t just about one beautiful photoshoot—it’s also about joining a group of like-minded women who are all embracing their best selves. You’ll be part of a powerful movement of women who share your journey.
The BE-YOU-tiful Project will be promoted so be sure you are ok with the following:
- You will be interviewed before and/or after the session (maybe video interview) so that we can learn and share your story
- Your images will be shown on my website, on social media and in a magazine that will go out to all of the participants (Rita Zietsma’s choice, but Rita Zietsma will consult you about the selected images)
- Before and after images may be shown on my website and/or on social media
- You must be at least 40 or turning 40 in 2025 to participate.
- We are hoping to get women of ALL ages over 40 – beauty has no age limit.
- This is not a personal branding or business headshot session. If you do wish to purchase additional images, and use those for your business you are more than welcome to.
Spots Are Limited.
Be Sure to Fill Out the Form to be Considered.
Getting Started is Easy:
1. Free Consultation
Fill out the form below. We will call to talk about you, and how you’d like to be photographed.
2. Plan Your Shoot
We guide you on what clothing to bring to truly represent your vibe. We plan every detail in advance so you can simply show up and enjoy this incredible experience.
3. Relax and Enjoy the Process
Relish in your experience while we capture magazine quality images of you and make you feel like a celebrity for a day.
Spots Are Limited.
Be Sure to Fill Out the Form to be Considered.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
My name is Rita Zietsma.
Over the past decade I’ve fallen in love with portrait photography. I believe all people are unique and are beautiful. Everyone has a story to tell, a story that can be told in portraits. I have worked hard over the years to gain mastery in portrait photography, and have become an internationally accredited Portrait Master, and award winning photographer.
Amazing portraits have the ability to build confidence and to empower you. There is nothing like seeing a woman look at her images and cry with delight as she sees her own beauty.
I would love to capture YOU – your story, your beauty, your soul, your purpose, your quirkiness, your personality – YOU. Let me show you how beautiful you are.
“Never underestimate the power of being seen.” ~ Brené Brown
BE-YOU-tiful Beyond 40
Application Form
I’m thrilled that you’ve decided to apply to the 40 Over 40 Project!
There are limited spots so apply asap by filling out the form below. I will get back to everyone who applies within 48 hours. Be sure to check your JUNK box just in case.
FAQs
What kind of session is this?
This is a portrait session just for You. Portrait sessions are certainly not “one size fits all”. They are as unique as the woman herself. This session is about creating images that tell YOUR story. We will work together to design a perfect session just for you.
- Are you a jeans and t-shirt gal?
- Perhaps you’ve been waiting too long to do a boudoir session?
- Perhaps you want to make it fashion oriented?
- Artistic? With edgy black and white?
- Would you like to glam it up?
During our consultation we will discuss how you want to be seen, and brainstorm amazing ideas for your session.
You may not feel 100% confident going into your session – but you most certainly will after your session! Previous clients all leave saying “that was so much fun”. I’ve even had a client say, “the experience alone was worth it!”
Where does the shoot take place?
In my comfortable, clean and private home studio in north Burlington, ON.
How do I know if I am a good fit for this project?
If you are a woman over 40 (or turning 40 in 2025) then you are! Have you considered everything you’ve accomplished up until now? Perhaps being a wife, a mother, or doing life on your own as a single woman, working, working out, every day taking the next step forward in your job/business/career! You are amazing. You deserve to be seen.
But I’m too old, I'm not photogenic….
No. No. No. You don’t need to be younger. You don’t need to lose weight. Being “photogenic” is my job as the photographer. You are a person who ___________ (fill in the blank with all the ways you are unique and with all of the wonderful things you offer the world.) You are beautiful. You are special. Now, let me capture that and show you and the world how awesome you are today.
People will think I’m vain won't they?
You can’t control what others think. Nor do we need to. Stepping into your power is confidence, not vanity. Confidence is a feeling of self-assurance. Vanity is seeing yourself as better than others. That is not what this is about. This is about celebrating your uniqueness and your own beauty.
What do I wear?
I always suggest bringing a variety of outfits. In your pre-session call I’ll get to know a bit more about you and how you want to be seen. From there we can plan what you would like to wear.
Do you have more info about the magazine?
Everyone who participates in the BE-YOU-tiful Beyond 40 project will be featured in a gorgeous, printed 8×11 magazine. I will showcase you with one or 2 favourite images from your session. I will also share an excerpt of your story. Each participant will receive a beautiful, printed copy of the magazine at the end of the project. YES! You will see yourself IN PRINT! How amazing is that!
What if I don’t want to be in the magazine?
No worries at all. You’re welcome to book a portrait session with me at the regular rates. I’d love to give you an empowering portrait experience. The special price however is for those participating in the BE-YOU-tiful Beyond 40 project, and part of the project is receiving an incredible magazine in which you will be featured with a cohort of other incredible women.
Can I refer a friend?
Absolutely. It would be amazing to have your friends be a part of this project and to be in the same magazine as you are. Spread the word 🙂
Count me in. What’s next?
Fabulous! Fill in the contact form to apply for the project before it fills up. I will be in touch with you within 72 hours via the phone to chat about the project.