We are so quick to tell our bodies how much we detest every roll, wrinkle, or "abnormality" but very rarely do we hug the softness, caress the bones, and whisper sweet nothings to our vessel, our one stable home. I headed out to the desert with a bunch of amazing boudoir photographers to celebrate our curves and bodies in all their glory and I managed to get one babe down to nothing. Miss Kristina of Owl and Otter: Soul Artist stripped down to the beautiful outfit that is her body and became a goddess, reconnected to nature. With the full moon behind her, the salt flats laid out before her, and nothing but her strong, fearless body that helped her travel across the world to the point where we would meet, she OWNED everything that made her amazing.
My mission as an empowerment photographer is to reunite women with their natural, goddess-like selves but my goal is to also increase the amount of diverse bodies we see online and in social media to make rolls, wrinkles, and "abnormalities" normalized because we are perfect the way we are. If we see bodies of all shapes and sizes in their natural state, we will look at our own and see the beauty that makes us original. This shoot inspired me to start a project this summer, photographing all bodies in the natural landscapes around us (I will wait until Spring for us Canadians!) and then create a beautiful coffee table book that is not only full of beautiful imagery, but also inspirational in all aspects: the women braving themselves and baring their bodies and souls, a showcase of a variety of bodies to show that there isn't ONE ideal, but rather we are all amazing in whatever form we take as long as we are good humans, and their stories about their journey to self love and authenticity!
If you want to join Kristina in this amazing project (I will be traveling to a few different places this year, so keep an eye out if I am coming to you!!) simply email me at: thpstudios@gmail.com with the subject: I AM A GODDESS
If you are not ready to get nudie in the neighbourhood, that is alright. I simply ask that you take some time to reacquaint yourself with your body. Instead of pinching and sighing in disgust at your softness or bits, simply caress it and decide that your bits are beautiful. As you do this over and over again, you will start to see yourself differently.
You know how we wish someone would tell us "I love you"? Well, your body wants the same. If you can't tell yourself that, how can you expect someone else to say it for you? Look at yourself in the mirror...open your eyes, take a deep breath, and start a relationship in loving yourself. You deserve it.“We all begin the process before we are ready, before we are strong enough, before we know enough; we begin a dialogue with thoughts and feelings that both tickle and thunder within us. We respond before we know how to speak the language, before we know all the answers, and before we know exactly to whom we are speaking.” ― Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
Get Outside {Inspiration Session} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Sometimes I like to take what's in my head and get it out in terms of photos and I am very lucky to have a Jill in my life to allow this to happen! The 2 of us took a little roadtrip out to one of our boudy babe's farm to do a little brainstorming and of course, take some epic shots! Miss T was gracious enough to let us frolic half naked around her yard, taking photos and eating her apples! We haven't confirmed ALL the details yet, but let's just say next year we are planning something epic that may rhyme with "MODY MOSITIVE METREAT". More to come on that later. In the meantime, here is an awesome session to get you inspired to take your own boudoir session outdoors to take advantage of what summer we have left! While I cannot guarantee goats, I promise you that wherever we go it will be private, gorgeous, and help you connect to your inner wild goddess. PS. did you see the sample album of this session? Scroll to the bottom for the video!
PSA: Summer's Here ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Yay!! Summer has arrived!! The sun is gorgeously beaming down on us in a more consistent fashion and we are no longer bundled from head to toe. So why a PSA? Because tan lines...that's why.
I get that we want to be outside more and enjoy the great outdoors, but if you have a boudoir sesh scheduled for this summer/fall I highly recommend being mindful of what you are wearing when you are outside. It's not that I cannot take care of tan lines, it's that it adds a lot more time into the editing process and for clients that translates into a higher bill. Extreme tan lines/editing is charged at $100/hr if you do not want them in your images. Personally, I am a fan of tan lines.
Especially when bums are pale compared to the legs and tummy. An old advisor once told me the same thing, because it lets the viewer know that they are seeing parts of the body that normally are hidden from society, so it adds to the voyeurism. So, if you come in with crazy farm tans from mowing the lawn or some ridiculous tan pattern as a result of those mesh bathing suits that are all the rage I may forewarn you about the additional cost and give you the option of letting the tan lines stay in.
Also, protecting yourself from the sun is just a good idea in general as you don't want to damage your skin any more than you have to. My recommendation is to be liberal with your sunscreen, be wary of the types of outfits you are wearing leading up to your session, and plan your session wardrobe accordingly in case you do get some interesting lines that you want to conceal.
And since we are on the topic of tanning, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NO SPRAY TANS, LOTIONS, OR OTHER MAGICAL THINGS! My prep guide specifies this, but the main reason for this is A)it will leave orange streaks the furniture/bedding, but more importantly B) it may look fine in person, but translates terribly on camera. The camera picks up every streaky bit and tends to pick up the residue in the joints (knuckles, elbows, arm pits, etc.) and can make you look dirty. These are NOT the things that you want when you come in for a sexified session. Also, your skin is yours and it should reflect YOU not some stupid ideal that society seems to this is "beautiful". Pale? Love it. Naturally tan? Fab. Dark? Perf.
Now, go forth and enjoy your summer, my hot babes!
On The Edge {NYC Diaries} ~ International Boudoir Photographer
Last month I had the pleasure of visiting the "Big Apple" to meet up with fellow boudy photog, Lindsay Rae Photography. She arranged for us to shoot at 2 hotels and brought her entourage with her, one of those babes being her epic makeup artist and stunner. Miss E and Lindsay had decided upon styling before coming to the city, but I was super excited to see what they had planned, especially since her outfit was exactly one that I had been wanting to stylize for a shoot in Winnipeg! High waisted panties over fishnets? Yes, plz. Anyhow, take a look at this gorgeous city shoot with Miss E! For a lot of women out their, they blame having children on their lack of sex appeal and I call bullshit on all of that. Miss E had a wee one a few months prior to this shoot and she had NO trouble at all bringing out the sass and sexiness. Stop using that as an excuse and accept the fact that you are hot, amazing, and in very many ways, super woman.
Ugh. I love NYC. If you live in an awesome location and would like me to visit, I am available for national and international travel and I usually offer travel-specific pricing! Nowhere is off limits, so shoot me a message as I am always up for an adventure!!
Desert Storm {Las Vegas Diaries} ~ International Boudoir Photography
{By now you should assume that all my posts will feature nips and bums, so if you are in a location where this is not allowed, feel free to exit!!)One of the perks to visiting Vegas, was actually leaving Vegas to experience the beauty of the desert. Being from the prairies I am no stranger to flat land, but there is something distinctly beautiful about this cactus-filled landscape. Despite me constantly tripping over the tiny little cactus bushes and scratching my legs like crazy, I was able to get some gorgeous shots of Miss M and Miss K (both exceptional boudoir photographers!!) in this barren backdrop. Shooting outside reminded me how much I missed the sun, the feel of heat and now I cannot wait until it warms up so I can get back outside with my babes! I love the connection between women and nature: both beautiful, unpredictable, and powerful. To capture both of these wild elements at the same time makes my heart soar. Anyhow, check out the first of the Desert sessions!
