SAMANTHA |THIS IS ME

Imagine accepting a job in a new city where the only person you know is your boss. And then, imaging your find out your boss quit just before you started…

This is how Samantha found herself in Adelaide.

Couple this isolation with the feeling of not being attractive and childhood memories of that something was wrong with you - it is a perfect recipe for depression and poor self-esteem for pretty much anyone.

Samantha told me that she struggled for years feeling that “Beauty ‘pretty’ was more important that being a good person,” and with childhood judgement for having “red hair, imperfect teeth and being bigger than everyone around [her].”

However, she has spent the last 12 months in Adelaide working on herself - her mindset and learning to be comfortable with herself. So, when she saw the opportunity to participate in the ‘This Is Me’ series she jumped at the chance with an infectious enthusiasm.

“I’ve worked on my self esteem for the last 12 months and after 30 years, finally feel beautiful.”

We designed a photoshoot together for Samantha to reflect her new found self-esteem and her love for classic beauty and vintage looks. We even did a small series in homage to the graduation photos she never got.

When it came time to view her photos from the photoshoot we were in Covid-isolation, and so we had to do this over video chat and screen sharing. Although this was not the same as being able to sit an look through the photos together, it worked. At one point the sound was silent and I wasn’t sure if the screen had frozen, or connection dropped out, and then I realised that Samantha was tearing up and having a small cry - she was so happy to see herself with love and love what she saw…

“You are beautiful because you are you. No one else is as unique as you are. Embrace it!"

If you would like to see yourself with love, know more about the This is Me series, or participate yourself, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Amelia xx