Thoughtless Words

We’ve all been hurt by words—and if we’re honest, we’ve all spoken words that hurt.

The old saying goes, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It’s a comforting idea, but not always true. Some words hit deeper than we care to admit. They linger, they echo, and they leave behind something unseen but very real.

This session, inspired by the song Foolish Games by Jewel, was the first shoot with my newest mentee, Maleyah—a wonderfully expressive dancer with a gift for emotion-driven movement.

Together, we explored the emotional weight of words—how something said carelessly can strike like a bullet, fast and unforgiving. We leaned into sorrow, isolation, and that quiet ache that follows after something hurtful has been said.

The result is a set of images that speak even when no words are present.

I’m looking forward to many more projects with Maleyah and to sharing them with you!