Something I have struggled with in my life has been self-confidence. For a long time, I felt like I just didn't measure up. Whether it was how I looked, or how I felt about myself, I found that for some reason in my head I was falling short.
That lack of self-confidence has effects that go past just not loving what I saw in the mirror. It affects all aspects of life. From dating to applying for different jobs. Even just trying to be social with friends has at times been hard.
That is why I am so thankful for photography coming into my life. Photography gave me a reason to go out and try harder. It has given me what I needed most, which was a good excuse. An excuse to go out to places that the "regular" version of myself would find a reason to avoid.
Photography has been my skeleton key. It has granted me access to the people, places, and things that previously in my mind I thought I had no business being a part of.
Gaining that confidence is hard because you have to do something scary to get it. That is one reason why FAB photography is so special to me.
Most people could use a real confidence boost. And most people wish they were more confident in how they look. FAB photography is a unique way to gain that confidence.
You get to show off an unseen side of your personality and express yourself in whatever way you wish to be seen. You are giving yourself license to embrace your creativity and your personality, showcasing it in a uniquely permanent way.
It also gives adults a chance to enjoy some of the things we loved to do most as kids, dressing up in different costumes and creating new characters for ourselves.
Except for this time at the end of the day you have a custom piece of art to keep forever. It is proof that not only are you enough, you are amazing. You have created this alter-ego that can embody all the best parts of yourself in an empowering way that you can use as a personal totem to lift yourself up when you need it.
Some people want to see themselves as strong and feminine or sensual and confident. Other want to be their version of their favorite fictional characters. There is no wrong way to do it and there is no way that you can fail at it. The only way you could fail is to not try. That is the beauty of art.
I have created a space that in my mind is exactly what I would hope for in a FAB studio. A space that is safe and supportive that allows my clients to have fun and challenge themselves without fear of ridicule or harm.
Too much of our society is designed to profit off of other peoples failures and insecurities. I want my work to be the opposite of that. I want to help lift people up and show them that all they need to do is believe in themselves enough to take the first step.
Because that first step is the hardest part of any endeavor. Just getting over the fear of the unknown and the fear of failure is in itself so difficult it has kept many of us from doing the things we want to do.
But if you can get past that fear, take the first step and follow through, you will be able to reap all of the rewards that come along with pushing yourself just a little bit outside of your comfort zone.
It's addicting in a way, seeing people go from shy and nervous at the start of a session to confident and bursting with excitement at the end. The transformation is amazing and there is nothing else in this world that makes me quite as happy as seeing my clients leave my studio feeling beautiful, excited and empowered in themselves.
I think without realizing it FAB photography has allowed me the opportunity to help give people the self-confidence boost I wish I had when I needed it most.
This is without a doubt a very unique and unconventional approach to gaining self-confidence and self-empowerment but I think it is definitely one that more people could benefit from.
FAB photography proves that you don't need to spend countless hours in the gym. You don't need to count calories or stress over some new fad diet craze. All you need is the skin you are in. You are enough as you are. The photos are there to prove it.
I hope that if you are thinking about doing your own FAB session you are able to take that first step, you will be so proud of yourself for doing that little scary thing and gaining all the confidence, and empowerment that comes along with it.
Want more information about your Fine Art Boudoir (FAB) session? Check out The Experience HERE!
Are you ready to book your shoot? Do you have questions? You can email me at jake@workhorsephotography.com. I can’t wait to hear from you!