RAW - Beyond The Session - with Artist Jessica Rae

I love doing shoots that use no photoshop or editing.  Dont get me wrong, I am not "anti photoshop"...I don't mind it being used as an artistic expression, or to remove a blemish or bruise, or to smooth my hair...but the moment I don't look like me anymore, is when I have a problem.  I was discussing this with my dear friend Artist Jessica Rae, and she showed me her series of RAW images, in her collection "Beyond the Session" in which her subject are captured in black and white, raw, with zero editing at all.  I loved this idea, and immediately we booked a shoot.  

I showed up at Jessica's studio first thing in the morning, with zero makeup on, my hair simply brushed out after getting out of bed, I stripped my clothes off and we got to shooting!  What we captured are so beyond what I had hoped for, and I am so thrilled to share them with you all!  

I think doing and sharing shoots like this is so important, and I really encourage you to do it yourself!  So many people suffer with self esteem and mental health struggles, especially when all you see on social media are photo-shopped images, with heavy filtering and perfect captions.  It's easy to think that everyone else is perfect and have perfect lives, but in reality, people are only ever posting their successes...they don't post the selfies they hate, or the bad days, or failures.  I understand why, of course...(I don't post my failures either), but I always try to promote honesty, which is what I wanted to do with this set of photos.  I wanted to show that even though my skin is so pale you can see my veins, and I have bags under my eyes first thing in the morning, and my stomach folds when I sit down (like EVERYONE) I am still worthy, and strong, and feminine and beautiful

Next time you're on Social Media, I challenge you to look at it differently.  Ask yourself to think critically about the content you are taking in.  If following a specific person always leads you to feel depressed or "less than" when you see their feed, unfollow that person!  And when you yourself are posting on social media, think of those that follow you!  What is the message you are spreading to the world?  Are you being honest, and your most authentic self?  You, yourself are unique, magical, and beautiful, and the world needs more of that!  It is ok to have acne, or big arms, or scars, or cellulite, or rolls.  Its ok to love yourself, JUST the way you are.  And its also ok if you're not quite there yet....but as long as you are trying, you are winning.