LAURA ALKSNE | photography + makeup + astrology

Dear april, you sure did not hold back with the punches. This month felt like a meat grinder - a lot of changes, health scares, taking care of loved ones, a sea of tears, lost weight, nervous system gone to shit. Thankfully I have amazing people around me, that were there when I needed them 🙏🏻

I’ve realized that one of my latest struggles has been learning how to adapt. Everything feels like it’s constantly changing and shifting. Sometimes it almost feels like we’re all standing in a long queue being ushered forward: go on, faster, move, don’t fall behind. As a person who finds comfort in predictability, it’s unnerving. I’ve always liked knowing what’s coming next, having a sense of stability, a rhythm I can rely on. But lately it feels like the ground is always moving a little beneath my feet, asking me to adjust again and again. And I hate that it’s hard. I hate that transforming, really changing, feels like losing the comfort of what I know — like letting go of a blanket that’s been keeping me warm. I don’t have the answers. I don’t know if I’ll ever fully “catch up” or figure out how to move with the world instead of against it. Some days I just stumble along, trying not to trip over the parts of myself that are still clinging to the parts that are familiar.

February camera roll ❄️ A month of my camera working overtime, a lot of snow (too much snow for my liking), multiple doctor visits and life quietly reshaping itself. There were photoshoots, filming days, new work chapters, new clients, and more hours spent creating than I can count. Between all the busy moments, there were also much needed pauses: shared meals, mini retreat with cacao & sauna steam, and moments of actually slowing down enough to breathe. I started taking self-portraits again, and somewhere in that process I felt a shift. I can really feel my solar year in the 6th house this year — work, health, structure, daily rituals, the slow kind of transformation that happens behind the scenes.

Best part about being a photographer? You can have a photoshoot anytime you want 📸

I always love seeing what products others love & I recently stumbled upon my own post with 2023 favorites. It’s interesting to see what products have stayed and what have joined. And actually I’m using quite a lot of those products still to this day. Last year I tried (as much as possible) ‘’project pan’’, and it only showed & proved that beauty product overconsumption is crazy, because it actually takes a long time to use up products, especially powders. This year I want to continue to be mindful with my money & not spend it, if I truly have products that work. Of course I have a list of products I really want to try - will see if I get around buying them & then who knows, maybe at the start of next year there will be new products joining my yearly beauty favorites list. #2025beauty #makeupfavorites

It took me a while to realize I’m not here to impress anyone else besides that little, wild, carefree girl. I owe it to her to create, play, have fun, and live our life to the fullest 🤍 ___________ #rigaphotographer #portraitmood #portraitphotographer #fotogrāfsrīgā #portretufotogrāfs Sieviešu fotogrāfs, sieviešu fotosesijas, fotosesijas Rīgā, fotogrāfs, fotosesijas

This year has been about collecting insights & decluttering. Letting go places, spaces, friendships & relationships that don’t work anymore. It’s been a year of staying within, letting the outside noise stay outside. It’s been a year of mindful isolation. It’s been a year of learning, analyzing, processing. It’s been a year of decluttering spaces - online & physical. It has not been an easy year, but looking back I can already see, it was much needed. Thankful, I’m ready for the next chapter.

I want to bring back doing makeup & then taking photos just for fun. I had forgotten what a good therapy session that is for me.

Pirms nedēļas biju @sistemtandems rīkotajā Mini Retrītā 🌙 Jutu, ka prasās atslēgties no ikdienas ierastajām sienām, parūpēties par sevi un bez fona trokšņiem - sadzirdēt sevi. Kaut uz pāris stundām. Ar sistēmiskajiem izvietojumiem esmu pazīstama nu jau vairāk kā 2 gadus & tie man ir devuši daudz vērtīgu atklāsmju, tādēļ jutu, ka apvienojot tos ar kakao ceremoniju & pēc tam pirti, tā varētu būt ļoti spēcīga & dziedinoša pieredze. Un tā arī notika. Lai arī zinu kā strādā lauks & kā spēj notikt procesi, nebiju gaidījusi, ka man tie notiks TIK jaudīgi. Bija asaras, bija smiekli, bija ļoti vajadzīgas atklāsmes. Paldies @mara_humandesign & @vita.systemiccoach , ka radāt drošu vidi, kurā satikties pašai ar sevi 🙏🏻💛

This year it really felt like I was wandering around a lonely beach, trying to get my life together and tripping over seashells instead. But all those stumbles became stepping stones back to myself.

August quickly slipped away 🍃 1. Last two weeks already feels like autumn, which makes me want to spend more time indoors (I’m not a cold weather type of person) 2. A cup of matcha/coffee & a “lja lja” is always a good idea 3. Bought a new toy. Who wants to go out for a shoot? 😎 4. Strolling around Kandava always heals a little part of me. There is something very calming 5. An artist capturing someone elses art 🪄 6. My love for Kalves ice matcha is still going strong 7. Theo Hutchcraft, your voice is pure magic & after all these years, I still adore you 8. I really wanted to take this fluff ball home with me 9. In a VERY long time got requested “bold blue” makeup. THAT WAS SO FUN to create!!! 10. I might be a little bit addicted 🍵 11. Still hiding behind camera/phone. This solar year has been fuc%ing with my head. Hope to deal with it next month 🤞🏻 12. A walk in the forest with great company is always a good idea 13. Been diving DEEP into astrology. Cannot believe Ultimate Astrology course is slowly coming to an end 🤓 14. Meeting with the fellow neighbours, trying to understand wtf is happening with this summers weather 15. It’s been feeling like october at the end of august

For those who like to walk around and see beauty, if you’re ever in Madeira, please, go to the Monte Palace Tropical garden! 🌺 We were there for a couple of hours & it still wasn’t enough. It’s such a magical place! Definitely going again when I’m coming back! #madeira #madeiraisland #visitmadeiraisland #montepalacemadeira Madeira, Monte Palace Tropical Garden