Obviously anyone who comes to us for a session is asked if they are happy for us to share their images, that fact doesn't change if you are coming is as part of our 'Embrace Your Body' project. When X got in contact with us, they said "I want to embrace the way I look for myself, my confidence, and my fiance." And that was our mission.
How did you feel about your body before your session?
"Not the best, I've struggled with weight issues and self-confidence issues for years now, always finding it difficult to like the way I looked in anything I wore and whatever I did. I didn't want to get undressed in front of anybody for years and I still still have those moments, but yeah my confidence levels were through the floor basically before this."
How did you feel about the session itself on the day?
"I was nervous going into it, I didn't know what I was getting myself into, well, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into, but I didn't know if I was ready for it, but other than that the session was okay. Going into it was great because it was welcoming, everyone here was really welcoming, it was nice. It was warm too, it was really cold outside so it was nice to be in a warm studio when I thought it was going to be really cold."
Did you start to feel nervous about coming back to see your photos, after the session?
"After the session I felt really good about it, but it was yesterday that I started going “On my god. What am I gonna? Do I wanna go? Do I wanna cancel it?” But I was like “No, I'm not gonna cancel it.” And my partner was like “Well, I'm coming anyway, so I can't go there without you. You're driving me.” I was like “okay, okay, fine I'll go”. We got round the corner from the building about half an hour ago, I was just like “ummm” then my partner looked at me and was like “You're nervous, aren't you?” And I was like “Yeah!” And he went “What it's fine.” I would say "I'm gonna have to do it now we're here.”"
How are you feeling about yourself now that you've seen your photos?
"Slightly more confident. I wouldn't say I'm 100% there, yet. After seeing the photos I was sort of, a little bit gob smacked that I can look like that. But I really do, I love the images. I love them more than I thought I was going to. I thought I was just gonna be embarrassed the whole time, seeing my body out for everyone to see (everyone being the three people that were in this room). But yes, I feel more confident about them now than I did before I'd seen them."
Is there anything else you could say to someone who's feeling apprehensive coming along for their own session?
"Do it anyway. Don't worry about the stuff that I did, I was completely self-conscious when I stepped into this building, but as soon as soon as I took my clothes off I was fine, because I was made to feel comfortable. I wasn't made to feel like I was being pushed around. I wasn't being forced to do anything and it was my choice at the end of the day whether I was here or not. So I didn't particularly know what I was getting myself into, but it was worth it in the end. Definitely."
The Embrace Your Body Project is all about empowering women to love themselves and their bodies, as they are, right now.
It's about embracing our bodies, whatever flaws we may think we have, and accepting ourselves.
It's about showing that nobody is perfect, but that we are all beautiful in our imperfections.
And it's about sharing that experience with other women, to help them on their journey to body confidence.
Fill in the form below to enter to take part
