I still remember back when I was a kid, I learned that my birthstone (January) is Garnet and thought that it was such a nice gem and I've always kept that in mind. I knew I would like to get that at some point even though I'm not a big jewelry wearer because my skin would itch and just cos it's annoying to put on and remove in general haha.
Fast forward to 2025, 
Garnets come in different colors but I really like red since to me it looks so powerful. They symbolize passion, vitality, strength, success, as well as healing. They were also used by travelers before as a talisman for protection.
Just like my goals for this year and forward, these resonate well with me and the gem will remind me of that.
I also want to have some sort of birthday photoshoot haha so I did my makeup and set the background and lights to match the gems. My favorite color is pink, which is just a light red lol but I am very attracted to reds nowadays. I guess I feel like it's my "go" signal to not be afraid to be bold and tbh I also feel motivated and powerful - my recent diagnosis of autism has made me accept who I am and just unmask and be more courageous. :D
I really like this photoshoot though. I am discovering a better light setup that fits me and what I like and I'm so proud of that. Everything is just screaming red and gold (along with the makeup!) and I've never been this excited about using lights before.
It's color is a bit darker red but gives a fiery red highlights when light hits it. Which I think is perfect for what my current vibes are. :D
I love the color, the symbol, the thought of the gift, and everything. It's also my favorite shape so I know this was made for me. :P
Anyway, I love the results of the photos as well considering that the light setup was also new to me and I think I will keep it as that. I hope you like the makeup as well (and nails haha) as I matched everything for the pics. XD