Jeanine Bailey:
Hello and welcome, listeners, to the next episode of the Empower World Coaching and Leadership Podcast. Today, I’m not here with my wonderful partner in crime, Marie Quigley, but I am here with the wonderful Dasha Dare, and I’m really excited about today’s podcast. Dasha and I met through Damian Goldberg around six months ago, I think.

We’ve been following each other on LinkedIn since then, and I have really appreciated Dasha’s posts. I really resonate with her messages. I often want to high-five Dasha for the beautiful messages she shares about us as creators of our world and taking responsibility for who we are, how we show up, and what we can create.

It really resonates with me. I also appreciate how she challenges us to examine our self-view. I know Dasha is creative and passionate about photography, and I’ve even taken some inspiration from her posts and shared a few photos of myself on LinkedIn - something I hadn’t done before.

Dasha Dare:
I saw those!

Jeanine Bailey:
There have been professional photos of me posted, of course, but not personal ones. So, thank you for that stretch and challenge. I’m still leaning into it. Dasha, thank you so much for being here. I’d love for you to introduce yourself to our listeners.

Dasha Dare:
Thank you for having me. I love how LinkedIn has become a playground for like-minded people to meet and co-create, like we are now. It's fun to be here.

A little about me: I come from a background in photography. I worked as a portrait photographer for over ten years. That experience, being one-on-one with people in the studio, prepared me more than anything else for coaching.

When I attended my first coaching training, I had no idea what coaching was - it felt like a coincidence, though I don’t really believe in coincidences. They explained what coaching is and how it works, and as we began practicing, I thought, “Oh my God, this is exactly what I’ve been doing all these years with photography.”

I’ve always seen photography as a way to reveal the greatness and essence in people - something they often can’t see in themselves. There’s something beautiful about seeing, capturing, and reflecting back the unseen. So, when I came to coaching, it felt like a natural evolution of my work.

I brought my camera into my coaching sessions and began experimenting, taking photos during sessions. Over time, that evolved into what I now call the "Dare Method" - my own approach to coaching. It all started about six or seven years ago when I realized what I was truly doing with photography.

I call myself a "self-image coach" because that’s my main focus - helping people evolve their self-perception. My work revolves around hyper-focusing on self-awareness: What do I see when I look at myself? That’s been my passion, and I’ve seen incredible transformations happen when people truly see themselves, their greatness, reflected back.

Jeanine Bailey:
That’s so powerful. I feel deeply moved by what you’ve shared - that beautiful, metaphorical yet real connection between photography and coaching.

At Empower World, we always say that as coaches, we are mirrors for our clients. We reflect back what we notice - verbally, non-verbally, energetically - so they can see themselves from a different perspective and uncover blind spots.

Hearing how you do this with an actual camera lens is fascinating and powerful. I’ve been looking at my own images with a different lens since following your posts, and it can be uncomfortable.

Looking at ourselves - not just the photos we like, but also the ones we don’t - is a stretch. I’ve been practicing getting curious about those photos that don’t resonate. What’s coming up for you as I share that?

Dasha Dare:
Yes, that discomfort is why this work is so important. Last year, I ran an experimental project called the Self-Image Sprint - all virtual - with several groups throughout the year. We took daily self-portraits after a guided meditation, then reflected on them.

Of course, I participated, too. All my experiments are a bit selfish - I’m curious about what will happen. So, I took daily photos of myself in an unprepared state - no makeup, no styling - just as I am.

It was incredibly healing to sit with the discomfort of what I saw, rather than brushing it off, swiping away, or pretending it didn’t exist. In our culture, we often avoid discomfort, but when we do that, it grows and manifests in other ways.

At the end of the sprint, I had a library of selfies - tired, worried, anxious, sometimes relaxed - all kinds of moments. I realized it wasn’t about finding beauty in the traditional sense. It was about saying, “This is me - all of me.”

We often keep parts of ourselves hidden in the shadows, but facing all aspects of ourselves in such a visceral way is profoundly healing. I’ve seen so much greatness in others as a photographer, but even I experience that inner critic when I look at my own raw images. But through practice, it becomes easier to separate from that inner voice - to know, “This is not all of me.”

In my coaching sessions, I now take screenshots of clients during Zoom calls - they don’t know when I’m doing it. It’s intuitive, based on sensing shifts in their energy. Later, we will review the images together.

It’s a powerful process. We discuss what the image symbolizes - perhaps it captures survival mode, flow, unity consciousness, or transition. Over time, clients learn to interact with their images without fully identifying with them. It’s a different way of seeing.

Jeanine Bailey:
That’s brilliant, and it makes so much sense. I hear how your work helps people accept all parts of themselves, understanding that every part brings wisdom, messages, and learning.

It’s about accepting the whole of us, beyond appearances, embracing who we authentically are.

Dasha Dare:
Exactly. At the core of my work is helping people see as I see. That’s not from ego - part of it comes from photography training, using sight differently, seeing beyond the surface.

If I can help someone evolve their sense of sight, even slightly, that’s a huge accomplishment. We often start with self-perception, then expand to seeing others, the group, the whole, all connected through the sense of sight.

If you can see yourself beyond your identity, beyond labels, and remember your essence - your pure consciousness - you can heal your relationship with titles and appearances. It’s like returning to reality, but from a different perspective.

You realize you’re not the projection or the screen - those images change, but your core remains. It’s not just self-image coaching; it’s identity work at the deepest level - separating self-image from your greatness.

We all have this ability to see beyond labels - we just don’t exercise it enough.

Jeanine Bailey:
We have the tool - we just need to use it!

Dasha Dare:
Yes, let’s help ourselves and each other become free from the prisons of the mind, images, labels, and definitions. We spend so much time defining ourselves: What do I do? How do I market myself? But not enough time asking: Who am I behind all that?

Shifting our attention inward - seeing the light behind the doing - that’s how real change happens. There’s outer change, built through action, but that takes time. We don’t have the luxury of time with global challenges like the climate crisis.

Inner change happens through perspective shifts. We may not change external objects, but our experience of them changes when we change the one behind the seeing. It’s about self-remembering - knowing who you truly are - that shifts your whole life into a creative act.

As a creator, you have options and choices. That all begins with how you see yourself. That’s the power of coaching.

Jeanine Bailey:
Yes - freedom comes from realizing we can shift our perspectives internally. That creates choices and opens up a world of freedom to experience life differently.

Supporting clients to realize they are creators of their own experiences - that’s the beauty of coaching. We can reframe what happens around us and choose what aligns authentically.

Dasha Dare:
Absolutely. One of my favourite quotes is from Jiddu Krishnamurti: “Freedom from images is real freedom.” He spoke about how identifying with images creates separation in the world. Ending that separation begins with freeing ourselves from identification.

Jeanine Bailey:
It’s interesting, thinking about social media - how some leaders or coaches hesitate to share images of themselves, while others curate images for popularity rather than authenticity. It’s about finding your authentic way to show up.

I want to promote Empower World, but I also want to be authentic, not “look at me” but rather “look at what’s possible when we’re authentic.” Does that make sense?

Dasha Dare:
Yes, I hear you. Social media can be a confusing space. It’s essential to exercise discernment, establish your filters, and regularly check in with your integrity.

We’re in an imaginary marketplace with many voices. I always ask myself: What are my values? What do I stand for? Can I coexist with those who hold different values?

Some days I share raw, authentic photos. Other days, professional, branded images. Others may share from survival - I’ve been there. But my way is to lead by example, through my own relationship with my image.

I'm not asking everyone to stretch so far that they share their most vulnerable photos publicly - your inner journey is your own. If you want to share it, great. If not, that’s okay, too.

Social media is full of dualities. What matters is being in integrity with yourself. Before posting, I check: Does this align with me and my values? If yes, I will post it.

Creativity isn’t about ego - it’s about receiving something and passing it on. If I get stuck worrying about others’ opinions, I block the flow.

I believe in experimenting - using different photographers, tools, and approaches. We’re multifaceted beings. Taking photos is one way to honour that complexity.

Jeanine Bailey:
Beautifully articulated - much better than my own rambling earlier! The key message I take is to always check in with ourselves: Does this align with who I authentically am? If yes, post it - without judgment or concern for others’ opinions.

It’s about removing judgment, being authentic, and role modelling that for others.

Dasha Dare:
Exactly. And I believe there is always a choice, even in the hardest times.

I see so many people lost in identity crises, due to job loss, life transitions, or societal changes. It’s hard to see clearly when you’re embedded in the struggle.

But your self-image is a gateway to a new reality - one rooted in remembering who you truly are, before the world told you who to be.

That’s the true self-image - your identity with a capital “I.” When you ground yourself in that, choices appear. You are the source.

Look deeply at yourself. Give yourself that attention. Next time you pass a mirror, pause. Remember: You are the opening, the source, the answer.

Even in challenging times, look beyond the surface. The transformation doesn’t have to take forever - it can happen in a moment of pure attention.

That’s my message to the world.

Jeanine Bailey:
Such a powerful message, Dasha. Thank you for sharing your insights, wisdom, and empowering work. I hope to join your next workshop!

Dasha Dare:
If you're coming to Converge, I’ll be presenting there. I’m planning to make my work more open-source, sharing videos and deeper explanations of what I do. There’s more to come.

Jeanine Bailey:
Congratulations on presenting at Converge - what an exciting update! Thank you again, Dasha, for everything you’ve shared today. Listeners, you’ll find Dasha’s contact details below this episode if you’d like to connect with her.

Thank you, Dasha - really appreciate you.

Dasha Dare:
Thank you for having me.