Celebrating Body Empowerment through Family Lifestyle Photography
One of the things I love most about my job as a family lifestyle photographer is that I get to photograph “real” people and families. There are no fictional characters, stage sets or artificial lighting. Photoshop and retouching images are absolute no-gos for me. As a staunch advocate for body empowerment, I’m here to tell you that, no matter what your body size or shape, you are beautiful as you are. The reason being that you are you.
As with most things, body size and shape go through various trends – from voluptuous Rubanesque women to the heroin chic craze, we’ve seen it all. But what doesn’t change is that humans are not just a homogenous being. We’re made up of different skin tones, hair shades, eye colours. It’s not just physical attributes either. We have different languages, religions, cultures, opinions, desires and interests. If everyone were the same, what a boring world we’d live.
Faced, as we are, with a barrage of seemingly perfect looking women on our social feeds and in the media, it’s hard not to compare. But by having an open discussion with one another, we can work to shift our mindset to embrace diversity and celebrate our individuality. Body empowerment—or body positivity as it is also known—is nothing new. The ‘Fat Acceptance Movement’ began back in the 1960s, to demonstrate against fat shaming and unrealistic body images (think modelling icon, Twiggy). The call for more diversity has grown increasingly loud in recent years thanks to celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Lizzo.
So, what can I do as a family lifestyle photographer to contribute to the body empowerment movement?
When you book a lifestyle photography session with me, not only do I want you to come away with a beautiful set of images that you’ll cherish but I also want you to have a memorable experience that you look back on with joy. As I snap away with my camera, I’m capturing the essence of who you are and revealing your true beauty. You can read about Why it’s Worth Investing in Professional Photography here.
Everyone has their own story to tell, and our bodies can show each chapter. Over a lifetime, the female body can go through a raft of changes – aging, pregnancy, illness, injury, disability, etc. I encourage you to not only accept these changes but wholeheartedly embrace them. Scars, stretchmarks, wrinkles – whatever you perceive as imperfections are at the very heart of who you are.
There’s nothing more empowering than feeling comfortable in your own skin. I always advise my clients to choose outfits that they feel flatter their figure. This isn’t about covering up; it’s about embracing and even highlighting curves – accentuating the good bits. We only have one body so let’s flaunt it! Get yourself camera-ready with professional hair and makeup if that’ll give you a much-needed confidence boost!
But it isn’t your physical attributes that my photos focus on. The purpose of my images is to capture the genuine, loving interactions between you and your loved ones – whether that be the chaos of family snaps, the tenderness of a maternity or newborn photography session or the intimacy of a couples photoshoot. Because they’re lifestyle photographs, they aren’t posed, and you’ll see, perhaps for the first time, how you move through your world and connect with those closest to you. This is where true beauty lies.
I’m here to debunk the notion of the ideal body and help you shake off those body image insecurities. And with International Women’s Day approaching, there’s no better time to explore just how beautiful you are with a solo photography shoot. Simply get in touch to book your session.
