Body Love Project: Miriam, Silver Fox!
The Body Love Project is an artistic, healing and celebratory project for folks who would want to tell their story - either as a cathartic experience for themselves or as an inspiration for others who may have experienced similar circumstances. This fabulous woman took such a huge leap in creating the most amazing boudoir portrait session. Check out Miriam’s story of her struggle with body image and her triumphant overcoming in her own words below.
I have been an overweight person my whole life,
I mean from age 3 on! By the time I was 16, I was over 300 lbs. I never knew what it was like to be in a "normal" - or what society considered to be a "normal" - body. I made the decision to have gastric bypass surgery at age 38 and I lost 150 lbs in 9 months. For the first time in my life, was considered "normal"- looking by society’s standards.
I never ever would have considered doing a boudoir photo shoot, I just never saw myself that way! From the time of my major weight loss, suddenly I was receiving attention that I had not really gotten before. Don't get me wrong, I got attention, people thought I was attractive, but it was more of a "you're so beautiful, why don't you lose some weight?" kind of thoughts. In my mind, I would never be accepted unless I looked like what society deemed normal.
During this process I've was in therapy trying to learn how to love myself for who I was, and not what I looked like. It's a very long process, an on-going one day at a time process that will take a very long time to reverse everything I was brought up to believe about being overweight!
I can't tell you how grateful I was to do my boudoir photo shoot - when I saw the images I cried! I just hadn’t seen myself as a sexy, empowered woman! And now I'm happy to say that I do! Graciela did such an amazing job with my photo session!
Miriam had hesitations of course; in her own words, she says, “ I said to myself, I don't deserve to do this for myself! And I was so worried that none of the photos would look good, boy was I ever wrong! I was also nervous about how I would look, due to my major insecurities I was skeptical on how good they would look. Not only did they look great , but that Graciela is a Magician behind that lens!”
Miriam wanted to share her story and, I’m flattered to say, she really wanted to share her testimonial. Here it is in her own words:
“I felt AMAZING after my shoot! I couldn't believe that was me! I never thought so many photos would come out so nicely! I still have such a difficult time and a skewed view of myself, seeing how beautifully they came really helped me see that I am not the same insecure girl that I had been most of my life! I feel so much more confident!
“Omg, the entire experience from beginning to end was amazing, but I'd say that the way in which Graciela made me feel so attractive and special was my favorite part. And although I was so nervous, she made me feel so comfortable and at ease! I actually didn't want the session to end, I used to do photography myself, I had only really been in front of the camera for a photo shoot that was about me , about two times, so I wasn't sure I'd know what to do, how to pose, how to be a "model " because I never thought I'd be a good "subject" to photograph, but Graciela really helped me so much in that area! I am so incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to be captured in a way that really helped me see myself in such a positive light! Thank you so much Graciela for such an amazing experience!!”
To have your own Body Love Project Portrait Session, reach out and let’s have a chat. I’ll tell you all about it and how you can be part of a gallery-style exposition of inspirational folks.