I haven't posted in a while so I want to kick off the new year with one of my favorite sessions from the end of 2016.
So much has happened since the last time I checked in (besides the crazy holidays and the election) I have been busy with reminding women how beautiful and strong, and important they are! I have become an official Body Image Movement Global Ambassador and started a new Group on Facebook called "EMBRACE - Concord NH and Beyond". If you would like to join the group please just ask and I will add you. It is a group made for women to be inspired and empowered. Please join us.
But, now, I want to introduce you to Tracy.
This is her "Before" image. Before hair, before makeup, just as she had arrived for her session!
Tracy is a woman, she is a mom, she is a nurse, she is not a model. But she understand how important it is to exist in photographs for herself, for her husband, for her children for years to come! She knew that we were creating beautiful images of herself that captures who she is at this time in her life and here is her story...
I met Tracy about 11 years ago when she was pregnant with her oldest child. I photographed her pregnancies for both her children and photographed the kids through their first birthdays. She contacted me last year when I was working on my "Where are they now" project. She brought both her children in for a shoot. You can see them here on my blog.
But in October it was Tracy's turn to get in front of the camera. She came in with 2 of her friends for a day of beauty. She new what she wanted from her session and came prepared. After having her hair and makeup done by one of my makeup artist here at the studio she felt completely glamorous and she was ready for her shoot. She brought along a few different bra and panty sets and some strands of pearls to use in the shoot. She was also prepared to bare it all! About half way through she was really having a great time and was very comfortable in front of the camera! We shot her both on a white wall and loveseat as well as a dark background for a couple different looks based on what she brought with her for clothing.
After her session was over she had to run to her son's soccer game. We joked about how she was a bit glammed up for an outdoor soccer game but she was determined not to miss the game and off se went!
Later that evening I got a message from her:
"I loved today. Thank you! The boys won! And <her son> told me I wasn't allowed to cheer sine I looked "ugly". (He doesn't do well with change.) Ha Ha! But I cheered anyway!"
Tracy made an appointment to come in the following week to view the images from the session.
Unfortunately, that day she ended up in the ER with vertigo! So she had to cancel and was really bummed! So we rescheduled her for another day (I was dying for her to see them!)
Here are a few more of the images we got this day...
She was able to keep that appointment and was blown away by her images! To say she was thrilled would be an understatement. After she got home, she sent me another message:
"I cant stop looking at them! I am obsessed! And T (her son) asked if he could have one printed up for HIS wall!"
(I loved hearing this since he was the one that didn't want her cheering for him at the game because of the way she looked!) Nothing makes me happier than a mom with a son that appreciates her! And, if he appreciates this NOW, imagine how much he will love these when he is an adult remembering his mom!
She continued "I just was looking at my pictures again. I can't tell you how much I needed them this week. I hated my body this week for having yet another weird and drawn out ailment. And I felt doubt in it. So seeing those pictures made me remember how strong and resilient it is. It carried two babies perfectly. It stayed alive when it easily could have given up. It morphed with my cushings but morphed back in due time. It allows me to push it and to work it and while I get frustrated that I eat well and workout hard and yet I don't feel like I am the weight I want to be it is strong and powerful and looks pretty damn good I must say. So thank you for capturing the beauty of it in images that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I can never thank you enough. I think every single woman....especially age 35 and over should do this at least once in their lives. It is life changing. You do magical work."
I am not going to lie. This made me cry! What an incredible feeling knowing the gift I can give to someone by creating beautiful photographs of them. No matter what is going on in your life, no matter how you are feeling, Sometimes we just need a reminder that we aren't just a mom but that you are still a strong woman and you should still feel that way!
Lastly, Tracy loved her images so much that she shared this on my "Embrace" Page on Facebook when she got her order home with this comment:
"Santa may not be able to fill the stockings since he will be too busy admiring the new portrait hanging (temporarily) in the living room...Embrace the chaos and love that is this time of year. Embrace yourself and embrace your body as 2017 rolls on in."
Thank you Tracy for your willingness to allow me to tell your story! You are truly an amazing woman! <3
#Embraceyourself
#Existinphotographs
In Love and Light,
Nylora
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