Photo by alitaylor
A friend of a friend is putting together a photography book, and asked for volunteers to be photographed. Well this happened during a week that many of you were writing about being vulnerable, taking chances, and doing something you’re afraid of. So high from inspirational words and the desire to be more than I am right now, I said “yes.“
Now she’s ready to take pictures; she’s waiting for me to schedule an appointment so she can take my picture . . . where I will be naked!!! Yep, naked. Now I can choose partially naked, but that defeats the purpose of facing my fears doesn’t it *glares at all of you inspirational people.*
The book will be a collection of photos of moms, some with their children, mine are too old for that. The goal is to change the way we look at our bodies, the way we see beauty, and all that good stuff.
She’s a talented photographer and works in black and white, with lovely soft light so I have hope of the photo turning out well, but I haven’t made an appointment yet.
Why?
Because all that strength, beauty and good crap is deep, deep inside of me, under a layer of Ben and Jerry’s I’m storing for when the end times come.
Photographed by Caitlin
Can the proper pose and lighting mask skin stretched to the size of a small elephant never to return to its pre-parasite condition? Will black and white be able to cover up the fact that I prefer to sit on my ass and eat nachos all day long instead of doing sit-ups??
I doubt it. But I believe that her point is we should love our bodies as they are. Be grateful for their strength and the life they have carried and nurtured and all the crap is great, but I would like it more if I had a flat stomach and a size six waist.
I’m hoping I’ll be brave enough to do it.
Would you pose nude for an art book? If you have any advice?
You’ll be fine. You are beautiful, inside and out. Have fun with it. 🙂
Thank you Jolyse you are so sweet!
I hate having my photo taking under ordinary circumstances, but I would pose nude. I love being naked, especially in the outdoors. I visited a clothing-optional spa in the Sierra Nevadas once and loved the experience. I’ll be there again later this month. Everyone is beautiful, and underneath it all, it’s just skin after all.
I am not very photogenic you have to do the two rolls of film to get one good shot with me usually.
You’re braver than I am 🙂
I haven’t done it yet!
You do not have to worry, you are beautiful. Take a deep breath make the appointment and have the Ben and Jerry with you the day of the shoot.:)
I am sure it will be lovely.
Thanks Elaine you are so sweet.
Alica, my father was an artist and specialized in nudes, both on canvas and on film. The most beautiful work he ever did was not of some skinny little pre-pregnancy model. the two that stand out the most in my life showed true beauty. One was a woman reclining on a couch, showing that, she too, had been lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit a little too long with a carton of ice cream. She posed unapologetically, knowing the extra fluff just made her a real woman. The other was an old woman, past 80. Her skin hung in deep wrinkles, her body showed the scars that come with a life fully lived. Again, she was real.
Alica, YOU are a real woman, and you are lovely. Pose with pride that the Barbie doll mentality never changed your body, and in doing so, shake loose the last of it’t hold on your psyche. You earned those stretch marks and you have two beautiful children to show for it.
Make the appointment. Make sure it’s on a day off and the kids are off somewhere. Light scented candles, fill a bubble bath, and spoil yourself before you go to meet your friend. Show the true beauty that is you.
I agree Charis some of the most amazingly beautiful photos I have seen have been of people marked by their lives. I love the honestly and strength of those photos. I feel inspired now! *hugs*
Do it! Do it! You are so beautiful Alica. I can see her doing something with your gorgeous red hair blowing and some light drapery. It would be exquisite. I would love to see it.
Thank you Kim- are you going to be photographed too? I’m feeling excited about it now.
Oh, pumpkin. You are so much braver than me! I’d have never even considered it. Here’s to hoping you’re brave enough to do it.
*hugs* Thanks Amy I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I actually go through with it.
This sounds like an amazing project. There’s a pic going around of a gorgeous woman with stretch marks and it says something like “these are your tiger stripes and you’ve earned them”. We really do need to concentrate more on what we have done with our bodies than the shape of them. I say go for it!! Who knows, you may even learn something about yourself from it and that’s what life is all about!
I’ve seen that one! It would be great if I looked that good in the photo- thanks for your support Shannon!
Oh Alica, just wear a kilt…. seriously, I did a nude photo shoot way back in the day with a photographer who did work in black and white. It actually is a very freeing experience when you realize, “meh, it’s just me.” Enjoy yourself, dearie. Oh, and please post the results!
Thank you! I’m excited about the idea now 🙂