A big guy being a cry baby.
So yesterday I ended up shooting a pin up set for a new girl I haven't worked with in the past. It was the usual stumble onto my site, set up a time and a place for a consult.
I went to the consultation and it went as usual. A quick get to know each other and then I went down my list of typical questions and inquiries. One of my favorite questions to ask is 'why are you doing this shoot.' I usually get a barrage of answers ranging from 'for my modeling portfolio', to 'for my better half', to 'I feel like getting into this sort of thing.' But the one answer I rarely get, but absolutely love to hear, 'I am doing this for me'. So a little back ground to the client (with her permission of course). She had been a curvy girl that was pretty much picked on and abused to a point she couldn't take it. She dropped over 100lbs in the last few years and wanted to show it! Being a portly gentleman myself, I respect this and offered to do this shoot entirely on the house, from sitting fee, to even prints for her. I felt a connection that was very personal.
So from this point, we set up a time and place to do the shoot and settled on using a studio I have used in the past. Shook hands, hugged, and parted ways.
Time and place rolled around and I met up with her for her shoot. There was the typical getting used to a new photographer, but as we went on we got into deeper conversation and got to know each other very well. As we wrapped up the shoot, she stepped out to get redressed and pick up a bit as I began my post pro on site just to give her a taste of what we achieved that day. She was giddy with excitement and couldn't wait to see the rest.
I went home and went thru my typical post pro, spending a little extra time with this one because I knew this client would be a life long friend after this. So I wrapped it up and set up another meeting to go thru the shoot.
We met up at a Starbucks and sat down and started shot by shot going thru the set. I let her take the reins scrolling and one after another I saw her eyes begin to water, but with a smile on her face. I asked if everything was ok and that was a breaking point for her. I grabbed her a tissue and helped her recompose herself and relax a little and got her to explain what was wrong. Little did I know there was nothing wrong at all.
She explained that she had never seen herself in this light before. She had always seen this (direct quote from her) 'tubby slob that no one could ever really love.' And for the first time she saw how truly beautiful she really was. A well curved woman that could melt her own heart.
As we continued going thru the shots we talked further and getting to hear a girl love herself for the first time is one of the most satisfying things to hear, and to know that I helped her get there, It brought me to tear up myself.
So we wrapped up the meeting and I handed off discs of the shoot and we exchanged info again, hugged, a kiss on the cheek and parted ways.
This morning I got an email from her with a list of prints she wanted and as I sit here this morning prepping her order, I can't help but think about how something I do for fun(work in photography) Could directly affect someone's life in such a way. People ask me why I do it. Many think it's the 'ultimate guy job' getting to hang out with girls in little to no clothing, and meet new people. That isn't why I do it. I do it for the stories like the one I told here today. There is no such thing as an ugly woman to me. It's simply a matter of how one see's themself. If I can spend 20 minutes changing someone's life for the better, I'll do it, for pay or for nothing.
And as she permitted, attached are a few shots from said shoot.
So just remember kids. You can't be loved until you love yourself.
Cheers,
Rob
So yesterday I ended up shooting a pin up set for a new girl I haven't worked with in the past. It was the usual stumble onto my site, set up a time and a place for a consult.
I went to the consultation and it went as usual. A quick get to know each other and then I went down my list of typical questions and inquiries. One of my favorite questions to ask is 'why are you doing this shoot.' I usually get a barrage of answers ranging from 'for my modeling portfolio', to 'for my better half', to 'I feel like getting into this sort of thing.' But the one answer I rarely get, but absolutely love to hear, 'I am doing this for me'. So a little back ground to the client (with her permission of course). She had been a curvy girl that was pretty much picked on and abused to a point she couldn't take it. She dropped over 100lbs in the last few years and wanted to show it! Being a portly gentleman myself, I respect this and offered to do this shoot entirely on the house, from sitting fee, to even prints for her. I felt a connection that was very personal.
So from this point, we set up a time and place to do the shoot and settled on using a studio I have used in the past. Shook hands, hugged, and parted ways.
Time and place rolled around and I met up with her for her shoot. There was the typical getting used to a new photographer, but as we went on we got into deeper conversation and got to know each other very well. As we wrapped up the shoot, she stepped out to get redressed and pick up a bit as I began my post pro on site just to give her a taste of what we achieved that day. She was giddy with excitement and couldn't wait to see the rest.
I went home and went thru my typical post pro, spending a little extra time with this one because I knew this client would be a life long friend after this. So I wrapped it up and set up another meeting to go thru the shoot.
We met up at a Starbucks and sat down and started shot by shot going thru the set. I let her take the reins scrolling and one after another I saw her eyes begin to water, but with a smile on her face. I asked if everything was ok and that was a breaking point for her. I grabbed her a tissue and helped her recompose herself and relax a little and got her to explain what was wrong. Little did I know there was nothing wrong at all.
She explained that she had never seen herself in this light before. She had always seen this (direct quote from her) 'tubby slob that no one could ever really love.' And for the first time she saw how truly beautiful she really was. A well curved woman that could melt her own heart.
As we continued going thru the shots we talked further and getting to hear a girl love herself for the first time is one of the most satisfying things to hear, and to know that I helped her get there, It brought me to tear up myself.
So we wrapped up the meeting and I handed off discs of the shoot and we exchanged info again, hugged, a kiss on the cheek and parted ways.
This morning I got an email from her with a list of prints she wanted and as I sit here this morning prepping her order, I can't help but think about how something I do for fun(work in photography) Could directly affect someone's life in such a way. People ask me why I do it. Many think it's the 'ultimate guy job' getting to hang out with girls in little to no clothing, and meet new people. That isn't why I do it. I do it for the stories like the one I told here today. There is no such thing as an ugly woman to me. It's simply a matter of how one see's themself. If I can spend 20 minutes changing someone's life for the better, I'll do it, for pay or for nothing.
And as she permitted, attached are a few shots from said shoot.
So just remember kids. You can't be loved until you love yourself.
Cheers,
Rob
Cheers!