For today’s post I wanted to make it a little different then what I usually do, I wanted to include some of my behind-the-scenes photos and talk a little bit about my process and then and up some of the different photos I took from that one shoot. Normally as a little heads up before a shoot I tell my models to wear loose clothes, tight clothes leave marks on the skin and since I’m working on a project with no retouching it’s better to have them wear clothes that’s loose.
For me making my models feel safe about what they’re joining in on is one of the most important things. I want them to feel that they can trust me, I want them to feel that they’re also in control of where these images end up and don’t have to worry about them ending up on unwanted pages. So I always have a little chat with my model about the shoot and then afterward I let them sign a model contract which I also sign and I will give them one copy of it as well. This was my model knows her rights and it also states clearly what I’m using the images for.
After we have signed the contract it’s time for a little test-shoot so I can get my light, aperture and speed right. At this stage I allow my model to still have their clothes on, there’s no need for them to take them off already when I’m just doing tests, and especially I had used flashes as well, sometimes these things takes time to set up and get them right so until everything is ready my models remain clothed.
Here are some of the different outcomes from the shoot, there are more as well but these three are among my favorites, I have not yet picked the one that I wish to use. Normally I give it a days rest and then look at them again, sometimes it’s easier to pick when you have been able to give it a little thought.
Text from the model;
“The fact that I have worked a little as a model has made me more comfortable in my own body. Throughout my childhood and teenage years people mocked me for my thin body, and then suddenly there was someone who actually appreciated the type of body that I have. But my complexes for my thin body has followed me for many years, not until in my twenties did I manage to be happy with what I have and not look down on it. I can’t do much with the body I have been given besides keep it healthy, it’s important to accept yourself for who you are and be proud of it. As a adult it’s important for me to feel strong on my own, be able to handle things on my own and feel independent, and at the same time feel proud to be a woman. Body Image has a wonderful message that fits my own ideals around how people show view themselves. I’m pleased with the images, and my body that finally got some meat on the bones.”
Old commissioned work, I think working with Body Image has made me very found of nudes and old work. Just three weeks left now before my hand-in, after that I will have lots of time to edit up all kinds of old work and share more here on my blog.
Body Image is a project where I go home to people, either friends or strangers, and they undress as much as they’re comfortable with and expose what they want of both themselves and their home. And once the photograph is taken my models write a text about their own body image.
This project for me is honest and real, it is without any photoshopping, it’s just me portraying real people just the way they are. I hope people will take the time to read the text the model has provided and that this project will affect someone out there.
“We’ve never really had a good relationship, my body and I. But I guess it’s like many other things in life: As you grow older you manage to come to terms with and accept what is instead of always thinking what should have been.
I’m 1,82 meters tall, which is about 10 cm. more than I appreciate. When I was young I tried to make myself shorter by sitting and walking with almost a crouch. But now I try to straighten up as often as possible and be proud of my length instead. Its not easy, but I try.
I don’t like being naked or with little clothes on in front of other people, and have many times avoided going to public baths and beaches. I don’t want people to se my imperfections, like for instance my stretch marks. The photo session which resulted in this picture, was strangely enough not awkward at all. It was almost like a “job”, and I knew no one was there to judge me. I felt very safe, partially because the photo was taken in my own apartment and I got to choose the setting. The setting was by the way my bed because I need a lot of sleep and spend much time in bed.
I’m not sure where my insecurity about my body comes from, but maybe it’s just a consequence of bullying and the feeling of never being good enough compared to other people. Ironically, I’m often the one who comforts other people who complain about their bodies. I don’t think anyone’s body is ugly - except my own.
The things I actually DO like about my body, is the fact that I’m slim. I’ve never had to deal with being overweight, and I’m thankful for that. I’ve got 10 toes, 10 fingers and the usual amount of arms and legs. I don’t have to visit special shops to buy clothes, which I’m also thankful for. I don’t even have allergies.
I also like my feet for some reason. They are slim and small. Compared to my height I have small feet.
I still have some work to do when it comes to liking my own body. I try to focus on the parts I like, and maybe someday I’ll stop caring and be happy with the way I look. “
Body Image is a project where I go home to people, either friends or strangers, and they undress as much as they’re comfortable with and expose what they want of both themselves and their home. And once the photograph is taken my models write a text about their own body image.
This project for me is honest and real, it is without any photoshopping, it’s just me portraying real people just the way they are. I hope people will take the time to read the text the model has provided and that this project will affect someone out there.
“What is a perfect body for me?
Either you have learned to love those faults you have, or you have done something about them.
A perfect body for me doesn’t have a certain weight, it doesn’t have a certain height.
Color, shape and everything else that follows with having a body.
This is irrelevant. It’s the attitude that counts.
And the right attitude and how you hold yourself, it depends on how you feel about yourself and your body.
You can have a amazing body, but if you don’t think it’s amazing yourself you will try to hide it.
And by hiding it from others you’re hiding it from yourself too.
It’s hard to improve a body you don’t know.
A body you don’t really can relate to.
A body that you really hate.
You get up every morning look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you’re ugly.
Then you will stop believing.
But if you get up and tell yourself that you’re an amazing person it will boost your self-confidence.
And slowly it will do something about the bad relationship you have with your body.
If it’s to train more or less, eat healthier, get enough sleep, stop smoking, drink less alcohol, drink more water or just to accept that this is how your body is.
And that you can be happy with.
Nobody can tell you that you’re wrong.
But because of ideal bodies and a twisted vision on what’s normal and pretty, a lot of people will tell you something different then what you mean.
Some will not care about comment while others will suck it up and not stop thinking about it.
And perhaps in the end believe in those very words.
No one is alike. “
Body Image is a project where I go home to people, either friends or strangers, and they undress as much as they’re comfortable with and expose what they want of both themselves and their home. And once the photograph is taken my models write a text about their own body image.
This project for me is honest and real, it is without any photoshopping, it’s just me portraying real people just the way they are. I hope people will take the time to read the text the model has provided and that this project will affect someone out there.
“I was a skinny teenager. At fifteen, my chest was still flat, my body shapeless, I walked clumsily and my skin was pale. I looked pallid and uncomfortable. I had long, unkempt hair, dry and flat, through which my ears protruded. When I look at photographs taken in school, I think: «Good god, girl. No wonder you were unpopular!». Yet, I can see myself somewhere in there. I realize that all I needed was a sense of style, a new haircut, the social intelligence which I unfortunately lacked. More than anything, my looks mirrored my social position.
Over the years I went through a slow change, in which I found the clothes, face and hair that I wanted to represent me. I learned to eat more, which lead to my chest unflattering and my unshapely body gaining curves. Now I no longer need to worry about the size of my breasts. I worry about other things, such as the fat on my belly or the tiny wrinkles emerging underneath my eyes. But this worry is of a different kind, mingled with interest: I’m still young, still having my best years, yet I’m visibly beginning to age. I am more aware that how I look, both in the nude and clothed, is a result of choices I make and how I live my life. And every time I have the choice between exercising and reading a book, I tend to choose the latter.
My body image fluctuates, I hate it one day and love it the other. I always consider the way I look to be important, because it decides who I experience myself to be and how I and others view me. Therefore I choose my clothes carefully and apply my layer of makeup in a habitual way. If I dress in an unfamiliar style or apply my makeup differently or not at all, I feel that I’m no longer «myself».
As such, my body image is closely related to my self image. That, too, is fluctuating. My thoughts on identity are post-modern, I believe that to some extent we create and re-create our selves constantly. Creating and re-creating our looks is a part of that process. I once bought a red dress in which I look stunning, but which I never wear in public. Why not? Because even though it makes me look good, it does not look like me.
Being photographed in the nude by Sun did not feel strange. I had my layer of makeup on and I chose my own postures. The photographs were taken in my own childhood home, by a childhood friend. By letting her models be in control of their own image, I think that the photographs in this project might show something close to the truth about our body images and selves. At least about how they were in that specific moment of our lives.”
Body Image is a project where I go home to people, either friends or strangers, and they undress as much as they’re comfortable with and expose what they want of both themselves and their home. And once the photograph is taken my models write a text about their own body image.
This project for me is honest and real, it is without any photoshopping, it’s just me portraying real people just the way they are. I hope people will take the time to read the text the model has provided and that this project will affect someone out there.
“I have an hourglass figure and that’s makes it hard to dress since that is not the look the stores wants. To go in to a store and try everything they have on only to maybe if I’m lucky find one thing, does not help me to look at my body and be proud.
Before I got my curves I used to have no problems finding clothes and was more comfortable with my body. I love my body don’t get me wrong I just want the same as every other girl does and that is not to be invisible.
I have my small issues that I would like to fix but what I most want is to love my body the way it is. To be proud of having a body as a real woman is supposed to have. And not feel like many other teenage girls where everything around you seems to be screaming “you’re not pretty enough!” “You’re not thin enough!
I am short at just over 5 feet. My legs are quite stumpy and my thighs are plump and round; they jiggle when I walk and rub together where they meet at my groin. I have the little pouch at the end of my tummy and love handles that shake. That makes it hard wearing tight fitting clothes, But then again I have big perky breasts and arm muscles as a man that I just love.
I sometimes have my days where I wish this was different or that was different. Wouldn’t it be nice if I didn’t get pimples? Or if I were taller I’d be able to reach those cookies on the top shelf. And these jeans would fit much better if I didn’t have this pot belly. But I’ve learned to keep such thoughts as they should be—fleeting. I can see them for what they are to me now, as a grownup—a fantasy. Like wishing for my body to be different is a momentary emotion and I appreciated how unrealistic it is. Most importantly though, I’ve learned to focus on the things I love about my body—I love my round tooshie, my womanly hips and perky breast, because these things are beautiful to me, even if they’re not supposed to be.
I think it’s better to indulge in the life I do have, we only live once right? Why would I want to add completely unnecessary stress to a life that really is perfect? Hating my body has, after only 25 years, become somewhat of an inconvenience that I would like to shove bake in to the closet and never take out again.
Because when it comes to my life, the people I want in it aren’t going to want to be in my life because of the way I look naked (and if they do, kudos to them, because all my “weird” bits are actually really sexy).”
Body Image is a project where I go home to people, either friends or strangers, and they undress as much as they’re comfortable with and expose what they want of both themselves and their home. And once the photograph is taken my models write a text about their own body image.
This project for me is honest and real, it is without any photoshopping, it’s just me portraying real people just the way they are. I hope people will take the time to read the text the model has provided and that this project will affect someone out there.
“Talking about my own body is hard. My mental self is so depended on the condition of my body, and that makes it so personal to talk about. I never know what to feel about my body, because my relationship to it changes from day to day. How I feel is depending on my mood, what I am doing, how loge sins my last workout, who I am with and the surroundings.For me to be naked in front of others or even show some bare skin I need to trust that person. I know all the right things. I know that I have to be proud of my self, that I have to take care of myself, that what you do is more important then what you look like. I’ve been thought to be strong, hardworking and independent. Despite knowing all the right things society has a way of getting to you, and no knowledge can protect you form that.My teen years feel like a long time ago and a lot have changed sins then, but some things cling to you like a monkey on your shoulder. Some things change you for life. My years in junior high was some of my best and worst days in my life. I was doing good in school, but I did not feel that that was enough to be approved. I wanted to change me. Change my life. I’ve started to work out. I dropped all candy, snacks, cakes and tried to avoid other food with sugar and fat. After a year I felt better then I ever had. I was skinny, sporty and my self-esteem had become a lot better. I still did well in school and had made a lot of new friends. It felt like I finally was on the same level as the others. Back then I did not realise that something was wrong, but looking back make me scared. Had it not been for al the great fiends I made, It would ended a lot worse. I was on the edge of getting an eating disorder. Healthy food and exercise become more important then being with friends and having fun. I started to feel bad about eating candy, and sometimes also food. It almost controlled my life. It still do in some ways. My hardworking attitude and the desire to be best affect every part of my life, also when it comes to my body. In society skinny people are successful. That was what society made a 14 year old girl think. That is something that changes you for life.”
