KRISTY | THIS IS ME
One of the questions I asked all the participants of my “This Is Me” Series is if they have ever been professionally photographed before. Kristy told me in her answers that she had been had, but the experience was not good - it felt very generic and impersonal. This is one of the reasons I chose to invite her into the process. I wanted to give her the experience that she should have got 20+ years ago.
When she was only 3 years old Kristy received third degree burns over her right shoulder and chest from boiling water. This is obviously something that would have an impact on her body for the rest of her life. Kristy told me that while she was growing up, her scars and the fact that she was a chubby child impacted her in a negative way growing up - being given the idea that she would not be able to achieve what she wanted in life because she was chubby.
But, despite the negative messages growing up, Kristy did not allow them to dictate her life. She has successfully put herself through university and now has a job that she loves, knowing that her looks do not dictate her success level in life!
I say, “smile and look how your eyes sparkle - that is beautiful.”
Kristy told me that she has embraced her body, and accepted her scars - she even wore a strapless wedding dress.
For Kristy’s photoshoot we drew inspiration from some of her favourite role models - Rebel Wilson, and Images of Melissa McCarthy. We wanted to show her strength, her playfulness and her resilience. And then we stripped it all back and we created some beautiful black and white images of Kristy. During the reveal session I could tell that these had touched her - that we had captured the true essence of her, literally scars and all.
Before the session I asked Kristy what her idea of beauty was, and she replied: “Beauty needs to start from the heart and radiate outwards.” Kristy was able to look at herself with love and see this beauty.
Fine art black and white portrait of a woman by Amelia McLeod resting her head on her hands.
