Body Love, Ms. A., 36

“I don’t think self-love has ever been something natural for me. Maybe something that I didn’t think about until my pre-teen or teenage years but I’ve never been very confident with my appearance.”

“I’ve been following Trish ever since my sister and I were participants in the For Real Campaign last year. I was extremely nervous going into that shoot with no makeup and not having much experience behind a professional camera lens. I also was trying to hide a baby bump at that time and wasn’t feeling very confident or feeling the pregnant woman ‘glow’! At the end of that shoot, I walked out of that studio with my hair styled beautifully and feeling much better about myself. Trish was so easy to work with and after the reveal and seeing others photos from the campaign I was very impressed with her expertise. I hoped that it wasn’t going to be my last shoot with her. 

I don’t think self-love has ever been something natural for me. Maybe something that I didn’t think about until my pre-teen or teenage years but I’ve never been very confident with my appearance. First it was having to wear glasses and being made fun of. Then, going through my chubby teen phase wearing highwaters because of my height and again being made fun of. To not being one of the “cool” kids in high school. Then fast forward to my post partum belly that I still have over a year after the birth of my second and last baby. No one is making fun of me now (at least not to my face) but that negativity is stuck inside me. I have a hard time accepting compliments and an even harder time believing they are truthful. 

 I was extremely surprised at just how comfortable I was shooting with Trish. She made me feel like I had done this before. She is so good at what she does. Not just knowing the camera and the lighting and the poses and all the other things that go into the job of a photographer. The thing that was the most impressive to me is that she remembered the type of subject I am behind the camera. She remembered that I am an overthinker. She knew how to instruct the type of person that I am and how to make the experience easy and enjoyable for me. 

 My body confidence when I signed up for the shoot in February (pre-Covid) was pretty high. I was working out and eating healthy-ish…I had lost several pounds and was feeling pretty good about myself. Then everything went to shit! I got laid off from my job for about 2 months. Stopped going to the gym and working out. My anxiety increased and I started trying to eat my stress and negative feelings away. Surprise!, that didn’t work out so well….and I was tempted to back out. My sister threatened to kick my ass if I did, so that was that!

After the BLP experience I still have negative thoughts but can also say “Fuck all that, I don’t need to be what society makes us to believe is a beautiful woman. I have the capability to let it all go and feel good about the person that I am. Sure, I still have some extra fat in the wrong places but I am also quite capable of being a sexy, beautiful woman.”

Advice to future BLP Participants:

“At the beginning of viewing the pics I thought “Who the hell is this? That can’t possibly be me….” After running through the slideshow a few times I thought “Damn, why the hell didn’t I do this sooner?” and also, “I really hope I get the chance to do this again!”
If you ever get the chance to work with Trish, please do it! Put your trust in her because she is truly an amazing, honest, bad ass! You won’t regret telling any insecurities you may have to shut up and take the back seat for a while. ”